The vision for Slough Central is to create long-lasting economic growth in Slough for everyone to believe in and enjoy. The plans for Slough Central are emerging, and we want them to be informed by community ideas, input and feedback. The following four pages explore the different aspects of the masterplan and ask a series a questions which will help inform the next stage of the design development.
The redevelopment seeks to secure the long-term future of Slough Town Centre by bringing a variety of different uses and activities to this site in the heart of the town including workspace, new homes, and places to visit and enjoy.
The proposed balance of different uses and spaces seeks to create a vibrant and exciting new town centre for both the existing and new residents, businesses, workers and visitors to Slough and one which contributes to Slough’s future.
The indicative ranges of space for these key uses are as follows:
A key commitment is to create long-lasting economic growth in Slough. The goal is to support local business growth as well as provide new spaces for companies to invest in the town centre. Providing new workspace in the town centre is critical to achieving this vision.
The proposals will include a range of retail spaces. These must be carefully considered and shaped to ensure they do not attempt to replicate the existing retail offer, that has struggled to adapt to people’s changing shopping habits.
New homes will be delivered, responding to Slough’s rapid growth, joining the existing community in the town centre and contributing to addressing local housing need.
New food and drink, and cultural and leisure uses will be included, bringing new amenities for local residents and visitors alike and in particular providing safe and welcoming evening options.
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image for the proposed workspace
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image for the proposed workspace
Precedent image for the proposed retail offer
We have identified a number of ‘character areas’ that make up the existing Town Centre: the High Street, retail/mix-used, office, residential and civic areas.
The vision for Slough Central is to extend and enhance these existing character areas through the proposed High Street Neighbourhood, Commercial District, Cultural & Civic Quarter and Residential Garden Quarter. The map below visualises this approach. Click the arrows to compare the existing Town Centre with the vision for Slough Central.
Q1. What do you like/dislike about the existing town centre?
Q2. How often do you visit the town centre?
(Choose one option from below)
Early ideas for the town centre include a mixture of retail, food & beverage, and leisure uses. We’d like to know which uses are most important to you.
Q3. What uses would you most like to see for part of our proposals for Slough Central?
(Choose up to 3 options from below)
You are on step one.
The creation of welcoming, accessible public spaces and routes across and through the site is at the heart of the masterplan.
The existing shopping centre acts as a block, without any open public spaces, creating an unwelcoming experience for those passing through the town centre and arriving at the train and bus stations. The redevelopment of the shopping centre site and the proposed mix of uses creates the opportunity for a range of different public spaces to be incorporated in the masterplan.
We have identified the possibility of a larger civic square space, and a series of smaller public spaces spread across the site that could offer a variety of different characters and levels activity for the community - residents, shoppers, businesses and visitors - to use and enjoy.
Our initial conversations with local community groups and Slough Borough Council have indicated that it is important for any new spaces to be welcoming, accessible and safe.
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
Precedent image to show the look and feel of the proposed new public realm space
We have identified a need for public space in the Town Centre. The emerging masterplan for Slough Central anticipates a number of high-quality outdoor spaces of varied character. This includes a new ‘Civic Square’ and a collection of smaller public spaces across the site, as well as outdoor amenity for the future residents of the site. The map below visualises this approach. Click the arrows to compare the existing Town Centre with the vision for Slough Central.
Q4. What public spaces in the town centre do you regularly use and why?
We are looking at how we can activate the public spaces that we are proposing as part of Slough Central. These could be places to meet friends and family, reflect, enjoy culture, to exercise or for children to play, among many other uses.
Q5.a. To what extent should the central public space be quiet/ active?
(1 - Quiet, 10 - Active)
Q5.b. What could this look like?
Quiet
Mixed
Active
You are on step two.
Slough Central will deliver new connections and routes, making it easier and safer to pass through the town centre.
An enhanced connection to the train and bus station will be an important part of the emerging vision. This connection should provide a visual link and a high-quality public route from the station into the town centre and Slough Central.
The connections outlined in the Slough Central masterplan seek to link into existing and proposed routes across and through the Town Centre, enhancing and extending these to make the area easier to move around and create more attractive and accessible routes for users.
We have identified that the current connections across the town centre via the Queensmere Observatory are less than ideal and a barrier to the flow of visitors as well as visually from the train station. The vision for Slough Central will extend and enhance existing routes and connections, re-establishing historic routes through the site, to create improved accessibility to and within the Town Centre. The map below visualises the plans to improve local connections. Click the arrows to compare the existing Town Centre with the vision for Slough Central.
Q6. What would you like to see improved about the existing connections in the town centre?
Q7. To what extent do you agree with the links and connections proposed?
(1 - Strongly disagree, 10 - Strongly agree)
You are on step three.
Q8. We're seeking to build relationships with a range of local groups, charities and organisations to get their input into the plans and build our understanding of the area. Do you have any other ideas about who we should be engaging with?
Q9. To what extent to you agree with redeveloping the Queensmere Observatory to deliver a new mixed-use development, Slough Central?
(1- Strongly disagree, 10 - Strongly agree)
Q10. The development would bring investment in and new opportunities to benefit the existing and future community. We would like to understand your priorities for this so we can seek to focus these benefits on the areas which are most important to local people.
(Please select your three key priorities)
You are on step four.
Thank you for taking the time to view the plans and share your thoughts, you are nearly finished. Below is a summary of your answers, please feel free to add or amend, or click submit to share these.
If you have any questions or have any further feedback, please get in touch with the team by email or phone via the contact details below.
Phone:
01753 394141
Email:
team@sloughcentral.com
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
These will be used to inform the future of Slough Central.
Would you mind completing some anonymous demographic? This helps us to ensure that we reach a broad range of people.
Please note this data is captured separately and is therefore not linked to the details given on the previous page.
