The redevelopment of Paisley Museum is now expected to complete in the second half 2026 following a number of “unforeseen issues” during the construction of the new building.
The redevelopment was first mooted in 2015 as part of Renfrewshire Council’s bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2021 – an honour eventually secured by Coventry.
Delays caused by the Covid pandemic and subsequent labour and materials shortages saw the reopening delayed until July 2025 and costs spiraling from initial estimates of £56.7m to £65m.
Last week, the council and OneRen, the charity that will eventually run the museum, published a revised timetable that estimates the construction of the building will complete at the end of this year. A public reopening is penciled in for the second half of 2026.
In a statement, the two bodies describe the project as “complex and challenging”.
“The modernisation of Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination is the first major refurbishment in the building’s 150-year history,” the statement continued.
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“It is an extremely complex refurbishment and the contractors Kier, have encountered a number of unforeseen issues that have impacted the timeline for completion and by extension, the opening.
“However, the work being undertaken will bring the historic building up to modern standards, protect its long-term future, and attract thousands of visitors to Paisley town centre each year.”
The reopened museum is expected to attract 125,000 annual visits to the Scottish town.
Once the construction project is finished, work will begin on fitting out the museum buildings including the installation of new exhibition displays, many of which have been co-produced with local communities and partners across the world.
New features include an entrance courtyard and red glazed entrance hall, a new wing for galleries, dedicated learning spaces and accessible features such as lifts and ramps.