Plans Submitted to Install Lifesaving Medical Equipment on St Mirren Street

Plans have been put forward to install lifesaving emergency medical equipment on one of Paisley town centre’s busiest streets.

An application has been submitted to Renfrewshire Council seeking listed building consent to install a defibrillator and bleed control kit outside the Nationwide Building Society branch on St Mirren Street.

The proposals would see both pieces of emergency equipment placed in secure external cabinets fixed to the outside wall of the building society branch. The move forms part of a wider commitment by Nationwide to support the wellbeing of communities served by its high street branches across the UK.

Nationwide say their aim is to ensure that vital emergency equipment is available to the public at all times. By installing defibrillators and bleed control kits outside their branches, they hope to provide rapid, 24-hour access to equipment that could prove critical in life-threatening situations.

Each unit would be housed in its own dedicated cabinet, designed to be clearly visible and easy to reach in an emergency. The cabinets are manufactured by St John Ambulance and would feature Nationwide branding on the front.

The proposal highlights a clear and simple message behind the project: wherever there is a Nationwide branch, there should be access to a defibrillator and bleed control kit when they are needed most.

Because the building sits within a conservation area, care has been taken to position the cabinets in locations that are prominent enough to be easily seen, while limiting their impact on the appearance of the surrounding historic environment.

Supporting documents submitted with the application state that the cabinets would be installed at a height suitable for public use and could be removed in the future if they were no longer required.

Applicants believe the potential benefits of installing the equipment — particularly the possibility of saving lives during emergencies — outweigh any minor visual impact on the conservation area.

The application will now be considered by Renfrewshire Council as part of the planning process.