Public asked to have their say on Heart of Slough plans
Details of the £400m Heart of Slough project have been revealed by English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, and Slough Borough Council, and residents are invited to an exhibition to find out more.
Development partners for the scheme, Berkeley Homes and Development Securities have also released detailed images of the homes and offices to be built as part of the project.
The Heart of Slough programme is set to revitalise and re-energise the Berkshire town’s centre and will result in:
* 1,500 new homes built in the town centre
* over 34,000 sq m net of new office space
* a new bus station
* a new hotel established to form the hub of a restaurant quarter
In addition a stunning new building will provide an iconic landmark for Slough and house the new library alongside St Ethelbert’s church.
Artist's impression of the Heart of Slough masterplanThe public will get a chance to see the plans in detail at a public exhibition in the Queensmere Centre, Slough on 24th, 25th and 26th January.
The new plans feature the removal of the existing roundabout on the A4. This will then release land, on each of the corners of the new junctions, and facilitate wider development for residential and commercial growth while replacing the bus station with a more modern friendly alternative.
The project will also provide improved street level pedestrian links from the bus and train stations to the existing shopping district and High Street.
English Partnerships’ £13.5 million role in assuming responsibility for the masterplan; designing and implementing infrastructure works to the junction; and building the new bus station, has facilitated this comprehensive scheme.
New homes and facilities on the Thames Valley University siteThe scheme has sustainability as a core development principle and all homes, constructed by Berkeley Homes, will be to a minimum of Level three of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Equally the office space provided by Development Securities will conform to a minimum BREEAM “Very Good” standard.
David Ashworth, area director for English Partnerships, said: “I’m pleased English Partnerships is playing such a pivotal role in revitalising the Heart of Slough. It is exciting to see the masterplan take shape and help it come to fruition.
“I congratulate the whole development team on bringing the project to life as they have.
“I know that, having consulted widely and taken advice we will deliver a scheme that will bring real benefits to the community and make Slough a city ready for growth in the 21st Century.
“The provision of affordable homes, the regeneration of the town centre and the re-use of brownfield land are key elements of the project.
“The exciting architecture and the increase in civic pride which we believe the project will engender, make these plans a real triumph.
“I look forward to having comments from the community during and after the exhibition. Public consultation will be ongoing and we welcome comments and suggestions.’
The Heart of Slough project will join a number of existing initiatives instigated by Slough Borough Council to revitalise the town.
Cllr Dexter Smith, commissioner for planning and transportation for Slough Borough Council, said: “The Heart of Slough is great news for the town and its people. It will bring the borough into the 21st century and give us a town centre to be proud of.
“I think the residents will find these plans have the necessary wow factor that we have all been waiting for.
“It has taken a long time for the project to reach this point and there have been many people and organisations involved. There is a lot of work still to be done but it’s a very exciting time to be a resident in this town.”
Alongside English Partnerships and Slough Borough Council, the key development partners are Berkeley Homes, who will design and build the residential element of the scheme, and Development Securities, who will develop the new office buildings.
Duncan Trench, head of delivery, Development Securities, commented: “We are delighted to have reached the stage where we have resolved the masterplan design issues with Slough BC's technical teams.
“It has taken a while but this is a complicated scheme with many interests to consider. A future for Slough's town centre has now been mapped out and we hope that Slough's community will embrace the vision.”
It is hoped planning consent will be granted by the late summer and construction will begin in the spring of 2009. If approved the scheme is set to be completed by 2018.
Slough Borough Council