Foxbar

Foxbar is a district of Paisley, bordered by the Gleniffer Braes and Paisley town centre. Consisting mostly of residential areas, Foxbar has rapidly grown over the past century to be one of the largest housing areas in the town. An area of low socioeconomic levels and poor social mobility, the local authority (Renfrewshire Council) has invested significantly in the area, which nowadays boasts multiple community centres, public parks and social areas.

Foxbar
The Durrockstock Dam
Foxbar Location within Renfrewshire
Council area	Renfrewshire
Lieutenancy area	Renfrewshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PAISLEY
Postcode district	PA2
Dialling code	01505
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Districts

Consisting of various sub-districts, Foxbar contains areas including the top end and bottom end, spam valley/meikleriggs and the green road end amongst others. All areas are highly populated with housing areas. Each area has a mixture of both private and local authority housing. For many years the low incomes and little investment created drug problems throughout the area. In the early 2000’s the rise in gang violence led to running battles between “the tap end” and “the bottom end division”. Urban decay had started to set in to some areas of the social housing such as Waverley road and Durrockstock dam had fallen into disrepair. In 2022 Renfrewshire council investment was prominent in the Durrockstock park which saw a new modern playground installed.

Housing

The district consists of local authority, housing association and privately owned housing. In recent years there has been significant investment in private and social housing including the construction of new build estates and refurbishment of existing tenement buildings and Oliphant court, Foxbar's only remaining high rise.

Foxbar previously had five 14 storey high rise flats, each containing 56 flats situated above Durrockstock park in the top end area of the district.

• Oliphant Court
• Marmion Court
• Heriot Court
• Montrose Court
• Waverley Court

Waverley Court was demolished in 1996 followed by Marmion, Montrose and Heriot Court in 2004. Oliphant Court was refurbished in recent years and is currently owned and maintained by Paisley South housing association.

Services and amenities

Schools

Foxbar has 3 primary schools (Heriot, St. Pauls and Brediland) and one secondary school (Gleniffer High).

Amenities

Foxbar has 3 community centres and one library. The main Foxbar community centre is situated beneath the library on Amochrie Road and Ivanhoe Road. The Youth Drop In is situated on Spey Avenue. The resource centre is situated on Amochrie Road.

The area also has many services and local businesses that supply the large population. For a modern housing development, Foxbar comparably has a large retail presence. Currently the various sub-areas are supplied by multiple local newsagents and grocery stores; however post office facilities, a pharmacy and a local butcher also are available. Understandably so for Paisley`s biggest area of housing.

Public transport

Foxbar is served by two McGill's buses:

• the 61 from Paisley town centre to the top of Foxbar, via Gleniffer High School
• the 17 (previously the 60) from Foxbar Heriot Avenue to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital via the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Paisley town centre.

The 61 has a circular route around Foxbar, operating clockwise via Brediland Road, Amochrie Road, Foxbar Road and back down Brediland Road towards Paisley. As of March 2023, a return from Paisley to Foxbar costs £2.50.

Recreation

Popular places in Foxbar are Durrockstock Park, which is a Local Nature Reserve and the walkway to the Gleniffer Braes.