List

Artist development grants

These grants supported professional artists to continue their practice, enabling artists to continue contributing to the local economy and making Renfrewshire a vibrant and inspiring place to live and work.

Over 30 applications were submitted to the Artist Development Grant Fund with over £60,000 being awarded to successful applicants.

• Iain Forbes - to write, rehearse, record and produce an album of original music
• McNicol and Jackson - to form a collection of short illustrated stories for children inspired by the magic and legends of our surrounding countryside and neighbourhood
• A L Brookes - to research and plan a retrospective exhibition of artwork with an associated programme of community outreach
• Fraser Scott - to produce a short film
• Ciaran Whyte - to release new music
• Sita Pieraccini - to create a new and ambitious record of music/audio work inspired and developed as a companion piece to the live show 'Paisley's Echo'
• Gillian Steel - to carry out a period of research and development around collective imaginative responses to dress, and the potential for re-imagining dress in the time of Covid and climate breakdown
• Maureen Rocks Moore - to research, collate and develop artwork based on life during Covid
• Grant McFarlane - to create an original series of compositions based on local landmarks and heritage sites
• Jane Hunter - to develop previous work in textiles into an expressive series of paintings
• Martin Quinn - to develop and produce a 30-minute comedy sketch pilot
• Joseph McFadden - to research the foundations of the Paisley pattern
• Scott Reid - to develop professional practice in song writing, composition and recording
• Indie McCue - to showcase work of local artists during the covid pandemic
• Ewan Sinclair - to research and develop an art installation using sensory objects and materials that can be experienced through a layer of digital content using VR technology
• Linzi Clark - to write, record and release a 4 track EP
• Christine Cooper - to create a research and development project for Maggie Rose's recently written play, New Caliban
• Laura Murray - to allow artist to progress within the Scottish music scene
• Alan Fleming Baird - to support the research and writing of a new piece of classical music for piano and violin
• Evelyn Laurie - to produce physical copies of a recorded album and a launch at the Bungalow in Paisley
• Mark Robb - to record and release a single using the facilities at Starla Studio in Lochwinnoch
• Karen Herbison - to support developing practice and skills as a playwright
• Alasdair Macdonald - to support Starla Studio to record and produce EPs for two new local bands

Town Centre and Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grants

The Town Centre & Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grants supported the animation of sites in town centres and neighbourhoods through awards to artists to create and install artistic interventions across Renfrewshire.

It recognised the importance of neighbourhoods and encouraging people to return to town centres and neighbourhoods safely after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme supported activity across town centres, neighbourhoods and villages in Renfrewshire including:

• Production of new artistic work happening in public spaces in Renfrewshire: high streets, parks, green spaces, local streets, under utilised spaces, walkways, town centres, shop fronts and pedestrianised areas in Renfrewshire
• The development and installation of the following; visual art installation, film installation, light installation, soundscape, sculpture, environmental art, floating art and water-based pieces, landscape engagement and mixed media pieces - this is not an exhaustive list
• Transformative ideas that add value to public and civic outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed during lockdown restrictions
• Interventions demonstrating how the project will enhance the experience of people using local businesses and outdoor public places
• Projects promoting wellbeing and giving access to green space and wild land.

14 applications were submitted to the Town Centre and Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grant Fund with over £40,000 being awarded to successful applicants. These projects are all subject to the appropriate permissions being granted.

Alis Le May - A Gathering Thread

This project will see an art based installation placed within vacant shop fronts in Renfrewshire. The location is still to be confirmed

Friends of Barshaw Park - Barshaw Park Viewpoint

The group plan to install a viewpoint in Barshaw Park, showcasing Paisley's iconic skyline

Indie McCue - Scope

This project will see four exhibitions of work by local artists showcased within a vacant space in Renfrewshire. It will also be available online as a virtual experience. The location is still to be confirmed.

Jessica Ramm - Fate or Fortune

Jessica's project will highlight the White Cart water by hanging illuminated signs reading 'fate' and 'fortune' where the river divides under St James' Bridge.

Maureen Rocks-Moore - Covid Island Diary

Art exhibitions at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and within a space in one of Renfrewshire's town centres will showcase work created by local artists during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mossvale Community Church - Tree of Hope

The Tree of Hope will be an artistic light installation in the grounds of Mossvale Community Church.

Outspoken Arts - artspace37 installations

Outspoken Arts plan to develop a new gallery space within the Piazza Shopping Centre

Philippa Tomlin - My Place In The Crowd

Philippa will gather local stories about crowds and event and create art pieces depicting these to be placed in shop and venue windows and in outside spaces. The stories will be collated and supported by sound design to listen to while observing the artwork.

Soundplay Projects - Soundplay Streetview

This project will see an audio-visual installation placed in a shop window on Paisley High Street.

Cultural Organisations Support

Designed for not-for-profit cultural organisations ineligible to apply for the Renfrewshire Coronavirus Support Fund and facing significant threat

14 applications were submitted to the Cultural Organisations Support Fund with over £100,000 being awarded to successful applicants.

• Jambo! Radio
• Outspoken Arts
• STAR Project
• Right2dance
• Remode
• CREATE Paisley
• Erskine Arts
• Feis Phaislig
• PACE Theatre Company

This funds cultural regeneration programmes including artist development grants, town centre and neighbourhood creative installations grants, and cultural organisations support.

The fund recognises the different elements needed to retain a healthy and sustainable cultural sector in Renfrewshire.

Find out about loans and grants available for businesses in Renfrewshire.

Business Development Grant

The Business Development Grant is a competitive, discretionary fund, part funded by the UK Local Growth Fund, providing up to 50% match funding from £1,000 to £10,000 to help small and medium sized businesses in Renfrewshire deliver their growth plans.

This includes the purchase of equipment or digital systems which are new to the business, property improvements or expansion, export development, exhibition costs, and the creation of new products or processes.

This grant is to support business growth by helping businesses implement projects which increase turnover and employment through improvements in productivity, competitiveness or innovation.

It cannot be used for vehicles, wages, stock, general purchases, or routine maintenance, and projects must not begin before an application is submitted. To be eligible, businesses must operate from a commercial premises within Renfrewshire.

Apply for a Business Development Grant

Business Restart Loan

The Business Restart Loan offers small and start-up businesses and people self-employed with interest free loans between £1,000 to £5,000 repayable up to three years, to help with short-term cashflow. The loans are provided through partnership with Right Way Credit Union.

Apply for a Business Restart Loan

Net Zero Grant

Small and medium sized businesses in Renfrewshire can apply for a grant providing up to 50 percent funding up to £10,000 to make changes to their business premises and operations to reduce their carbon footprint.

This includes moving to a low carbon heating system or using solar powered energy, but the grant cannot be used on existing systems, carbon-offsetting or on consultant fees or staff costs.

The online application requires businesses to provide their baseline carbon footprint. See the guides on how to measure your carbon footprint (Scottish Enterprise ) and helpful free online training from Business Energy Scotland.

Apply for a Net Zero Grant

Retail Improvement Scheme grants for shop fronts

You can apply for a grant to repair, improve, upgrade, or restore the front of your shop, business, or commercial premises in Renfrewshire.

Find out more about the Retail Improvement Scheme grant.

Start-Up Street

Read more about the low-cost business incubator, accommodation and business support for up to two years for early stage and start-up businesses, Start-Up Street.

Town Centre Premises Grant

The grant can help businesses move into empty, ground-floor commercial premises in Paisley, Johnstone, Renfrew, Linwood or Erskine town centres.

You could get a grant of up to 50% of your project costs, up to a maximum of £25,000.

Find out more about the Town Centre Premises Grant.

Help to apply for a business grant or loan

For more information about applying for any of the grants, loans and funding schemes listed you can contact our Business Gateway team.

Find out what affordable housing is, new affordable housing developments, completed affordable housing sites, and future housing developments in Renfrewshire.

What affordable housing is

Affordable housing comes in a variety of types. It includes:

• homes for social rent from the council and housing associations
• homes for affordable rent like Mid-Market Rent
• affordable home ownership, such as shared equity and shared ownership.

Mid market rent

Within Renfrewshire, there are a small number of properties available for mid-market rent. These are more expensive than council or housing association rents but cost less than similar sized houses for private rent. The Link Group currently have mid-market rent properties. If you are interested in this, please contact the Link Group on 03451 400 100.

First time buyers

The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE/LIFT) helps first-time buyers on low to moderate incomes to buy a home on the open market within certain price thresholds.

Shared ownership

The New Supply Shared Equity Scheme (low cost home ownership) can help low to moderate households buy a new build home developed as part of the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme; part of the council's Strategic Housing Investment Programme.

Learn more about these options for low-income households to buy a home.

If you want to apply for social rented housing from the council you should contact your local housing office or phone: 0300 300 0222.

If you want to apply to a housing association for housing to see their contact details.

New affordable housing developments

The Scottish Government allocates grant funding to local authority areas through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme to support the delivery of new build affordable homes across Renfrewshire. Affordable homes can include those built by either the council or housing association partners for social rent, mid-market rent or shared equity low cost home ownership.

Renfrewshire's current Strategic Housing Investment Plan sets out how investment in affordable housing will be targeted to meet the objectives of Renfrewshire's Local Housing Strategy.

Completed affordable housing sites

The following developments were completed from April 2016 onwards.

Developments currently on site

Future developments

In addition to the sites listed on this page, there a are number of new developments within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan that are currently being advanced and will appear here once they have commenced on site.

Cost of a lair

Cost for interment and other services

There is no charge if the lair is for a child under 18 years old. There are also no charges for their interment (their burial) or for headstone permits and foundations. 

Cemetery services

Our cemeteries

We provide a burial service and maintain 9 cemeteries in Renfrewshire. There is also 1 privately run cemetery in Paisley.

Cemetery opening hours

Our cemeteries are always open. For safety reasons and to ensure access for visitors, we do not lock the gates.

We advise against visiting a cemetery in hours of darkness or bad weather. Visitors should take care when in our cemeteries as they would in any outdoor space.

We may need to close, or partially close, a cemetery at any time.

Cemeteries can pose several hazards due to their natural landscape and memorials. You must not climb any tree, shrub, wall, fence or railing, any memorial or any other type of structure.

Children in the cemetery

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Dogs in the cemetery

Well behaved dogs on a lead of no more than 2 metres in length are welcome in our cemeteries. Dog owners are responsible for controlling their dogs and disposing of dog waste. 
 
Please do not use the caged bins designed for disposal of flower arrangements to dispose of dog waste, as our staff manually tip these bins over their shoulder to empty them. There are other bins at the entrances or nearby outside the cemetery. 

Read the full details about access rules in the cemetery rules and regulations. 

Locations of the cemeteries

Abbey cemetery

Abbey Road, Elderslie, PA5 9UR.

Date Opened 21 January 1887. 

Arkleston cemetery

Arkleston Road, by North Arkleston Farm, Paisley, PA3 4JD.

Date opened 7 April 1902.

Bishopton cemetery

Houston Road, Bishopton, PA7 5NX.

Date opened 14 November 1938 and extended October 1994.

Broomward cemetery

Old Road, Elderslie, PA5 9EH.

Date opened 30 October 1991.

Hawkhead cemetery

133 Hawkhead Road, Paisley, PA2 7BE.

Date opened 13 April 1891.

There is a designated memorial garden for children under 18. You can have a memorial plaque inscribed with a personal message in the garden which is arranged by Council staff. 

There is a memorial to the Victoria Cross medal winners from the Renfrewshire area. 

Improvement works at Hawkhead cemetery in May 2026.

Houston cemetery

Crosslee Road, Houston, PA6 7EJ.

Date opened 19 November 1857 and extended 1999.

Inchinnan cemetery

Old Greenock Road, Inchinnan, PA4 9PH.

Date opened 22 January 1929 and extended 2019.

Kilbarchan cemetery

Bridge of Weir Road, Brookfield, PA5 8UP.

Date opened 12 February 1897 and extended 1997.

Lochwinnoch cemetery

Linthills Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4DJ.

Date opened 11 May 1895 and extended 2004 and woodland section 2006.

Woodland burial site at Lochwinnoch Cemetery

Our woodland burial site at Lochwinnoch cemetery offers a return to nature for those who wish to be buried in a woodland setting among wildlife and wildflowers.

The area is managed for the benefit and development of the wildflowers, trees and wildlife. It's an informal setting sloping down to the River Calder. It's not suitable for a burial in a formal layout with regularly maintained grass. 

Each lair holds one burial. You may be able to buy lairs beside each other for family members who wish to be buried together, depending on the ground conditions. These lairs cost the same price as conventional lairs. 

Memorials are not allowed. Once a section is filled up, suitable trees or wildflowers can be planted there.  

There are commemorative pillars at the entrance to the woodland burial site. Lair holders can arrange name plaques and messages on the commemorative walls. 

While the use of environmentally friendly coffins such as cardboard or wicker is preferred, we do not exclude burials in traditionally made coffins. 

Woodside cemetery and crematorium

Woodside cemetery and crematorium is a privately run business. 

You can phone them on 0141 889 2260 or view further info on the Woodside cemetery and crematorium website.

Cemetery policies and rules

Where our cemeteries are, opening times, access for visitors, facilities, other privately run cemeteries, and war memorials.

You can download the latest list of Renfrewshire organisations receiving business rates relief.

Emergencies 

Phone 999.

Non-emergencies

Phone 101 to contact the police in an urgent situation that is not an emergency.

Medical help and advice

Phone 111 to contact NHS 24 for urgent but not life-threatening medical help and advice.

Emergency Alerts

Emergency Alerts is a UK Government service that will warn you if there's a danger to life nearby.

In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe.

You may get alerts about severe flooding, fires or extreme weather.

Learn more about Emergency Alerts on the UK Government website.

Flooding

Phone us on 0300 300 0380 to report an emergency flooding issue.

Report a blocked drain or non-emergency flooding issue online. 

Power cuts

Phone 105 to report a power cut.

To contact Scottish Power directly, phone them on 0800 092 9290.

If there are exposed cables or damaged equipment, that’s an emergency – phone 999.

Learn more about preparing for and dealing with a power cut (Power Cut 105 website).

Gas emergencies

Phone 0800 111 999 to report a gas emergency to the National Gas Emergency Service.

Water issues

To report a water issue to Scottish Water:

• phone 0800 077 8778
• report a water issue online (Scottish Water website).

Council services

Phone us on 0300 300 0380 to report another emergency.

If you live in a council home, find out how to report a housing repair.

This is a list of phone numbers and other contact details for different types of urgent situations.