NEW flats in Paisley are selling fast and helping to transform the town centre, according to Renfrewshire council leader.

Eighteen of 23 flats in a new block of Westpoint flats, overlooking Paisley Abbey and Gauze Street, have been sold.

The new flats follow two blocks in Cotton Street which sold shortly after opening in 2012.

Mr Macmillan said the new development was " the latest piece in the town centre jigsaw."

He said: "That section of the town centre has been utterly transformed of late, with the Westpoint flats and ongoing development over the road on the former Arnotts site.

"It can only be good news for town centre traders that so many new residents have been brought into the town, with more to come when phase one of the Arnotts development is complete.

"We see the speed at which those flats have been bought as a ringing endorsement of Paisley town centre and all it has to offer."

He said the new town centre complemented the drive to enter a bid for UK City of Culture status for 2021 and would be "buzzing with activity as we work towards that bid."

Zoë Robertson, sales and marketing manager of Westpoint Homes, said: "Abbey Place is a wonderful location close to the historic Abbey and Paisley town centre.

"The Abbey area of Paisley is now a vibrant, thriving residential and business location but even we have been surprised at how quickly the apartments have been snapped up."