The information on this page is presented in the format of frequently asked questions. Please click a question from the index below to see the appropriate answer.
What is the Heart of Slough project?
Heart of Slough is a £450m project to revitalise the town centre and make Slough a great place to live, work and play.
It will completely transform the area around the existing Brunel roundabout, which will be removed as part of the highways improvements. In its place will be a four way junction controlled by traffic lights which will communicate with each other to optimise traffic flow.
This new road layout will release large areas of land, enabling the development of iconic new buildings such as:
Where is the site and what buildings will be demolished?
The Heart of Slough project comprises the redevelopment of 29 acres of the town centre between the mainline railway station and principal shopping area. This area, surrounding the William Street roundabout, will encompass Brunel Bus station and the Thames Valley University site.
Brunel Bus Station will be demolished along with Slough library and parts of Thames Valley University. All listed buildings will be preserved within the new town centre - St Ethelbert’s Church will remain untouched.
Who is involved in the scheme?
The scheme is a joint venture between:
The initiative is also working in close collaboration with local communities and public bodies like the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
What will regeneration do for Slough?
It will help to provide:
Heart of Slough aims to make Slough a more pedestrian friendly town by providing a natural route from the train and bus stations through to the town centre. And by drawing more people into the town centre we can attract a wider variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Why does Slough need this?
Like businesses, towns need to compete effectively to survive. We want to make Slough a town where people want to:
We want Slough’s young people to see a future in staying in the town and contributing to its prosperity. And we want global organisations to continue to choose to locate in Slough.
Slough Borough Council believes the town can only benefit from:
When will the building work start and how long will it take?
The first construction has begun. The old library building which housed Age Concern has been demolished and Compair House will soon follow.
The town centre will be developed gradually with the smaller elements of the scheme being developed over the next few years, following approval of planning applications.
It may take 15 to 20 years for the full development to be completed. However the new bus station could be complete as early as 2011.
How much will it cost to develop?
Heart of Slough is a £450m investment from the public and private sectors to make Slough a great place to live in, work in and enjoy.
This is new money for the town, specifically for this project: no money has been diverted from providing council services to make Heart of Slough a reality.
Why does the site need redeveloping?
During consultation, local people have told us that this particular area of the town centre looks dated and unappealing.
Pedestrian access is difficult due to the barrier caused by the A4. Fear of crime is a concern for many residents in the area, and local people are choosing other town centres to work or to visit for entertainment.
Therefore, the town needs redeveloping in order to provide a high quality centre that local people will use and enjoy and feel proud of.
Will there be disruption when work gets underway?
The road works will happen on a phased basis, starting in 2010 for completion by 2012. Whilst there will be some disruption in the short term, the aim is to keep this to a minimum.
The council’s consultant has undertaken an environmental appraisal to ensure all the work complies with government guidelines.
What disruption will there be to the bus service during the development?
Deconstruction of the existing bus station will start in the autumn 2009. It is being done in a way that means buses and passengers can continue to use the site in complete safety until the new one is ready for use in early 2011.
Although parking in Brunel car park will not be possible during this work, there are sufficient parking spaces throughout the town to accommodate those cars that are currently parked there.
What about the ideas and views of local people?
The council has already consulted widely with the public through a variety of means:
Comments and suggestions from the public have been included in the proposals. For example, people dislike subways so we are building over the ground, and we have recognised a need to improve public transport.
Where can we find out more on the plans for Slough?
From October you will be able to visit an exhibition display at My Council in the town centre.
We are always keen to hear your views and feedback on this exciting development in the town. You can email: heartofslough@slough.gov.uk. Or write to: Heart of Slough, Communications, Slough Borough Council, Town Hall, Slough SL1 3UQ.
A series of Revitalising Slough consultation events are planned for venues throughout the borough, offering the opportunity to meet the people who are making the Heart of Slough a reality. More details will be published in October.
For all enquiries please contact the Customer Service Centre
01753 475111
01753 875030
MyCouncil
Landmark Place
High Street, Slough
SL1 1JL, opposite
Slough Library
MyCouncil opening times.
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