Agenda item

Interim Planning Framework for the Centre of Slough

Minutes:

The Planning Policy Lead Officer introduced a report that sought approval to publish the Interim Planning Framework for the Centre of Slough that would be used to guide the comprehensive regeneration of the area.  The Amendment Sheet included some revisions to the original report circulated and these were noted.

 

The Council’s Five Year Plan included a requirement to produce a masterplan to “encourage and influence high quality design and development throughout the town centre” and it was linked to other strategies such as the Transport Vision approved by Cabinet in February 2019.  It sought to inform planning decisions but did not have the weight of planning policy.

 

The key aspects of the framework were summarised.  It was an “activity” led strategy which sought to maximise the opportunities to use the town centre for cultural, social, leisure and employment activities.  The centre of Slough had significant potential to be a world class transport hub and a thriving business quarter which could also accommodate significant new housing.  It was envisaged that there would be a revitalised retail and leisure offer, with the High Street as the focal point and a new pedestrian street linking the High Street to the station via MacKenzie Square and Brunel Way.  The framework was not prescriptive about individual sites but did seek to set out the broad principles of how the centre should look in terms of building heights, street patterns, key linkages and design quality.

 

Members asked about the proposals to reduce the impact of the severance of the town centre by the A4 and the future options for the Tesco Site on Brunel Way as detailed in paragraph 5.2 of the framework.  The Officer explained the medium to long term opportunities that could arise from the remodelling or redevelopment of the Tesco site.  The Transport Vision included initial proposals to reduce the dominance of traffic on the A4 in the town centre by giving greater priority to public transport.  A further report was due to be considered by the Cabinet later in the year.  The principles of building heights was discussed and it was noted that the framework was not prescriptive but did set out the broad categories in various parts of the centre of the Slough.  The concept of the cultural quarter was discussed and the Officer commented that the ambition was for cultural activity across the centre rather than focus on a single hub or zone.

 

The document would be open for comment but not full consultation until it had been subject to more testing.  After due consideration, the Committee agreed that the framework be adopted and approved for publication.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That the Interim Planning Framework for the Centre of Slough as at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted and approved for publication.

 

(b)  That delegated powers be given to the Planning Policy Lead Officer to make minor changes to the document prior to publication.

Supporting documents: