Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment
New Local Plan for Slough consultation is open
Have your say on the New Local Plan for Slough.
The Scoping Consultation runs from 13 July to 24 August 2026.
Slough Borough Council is preparing a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) to support the new Local Plan.
The HELAA is a technical evidence document that helps the council understand the potential availability of land for housing and economic development across the borough. It assesses sites in terms of their suitability, availability and achievability.
The HELAA does not:
- allocate sites for development; or
- grant planning permission
Its findings will form part of the Local Plan evidence base and will be published separately in the HELAA Report.
Current stage of work
Work on the HELAA is ongoing and currently includes:
- mapping sites submitted through the most recent Call for Sites and other known land opportunities
- reviewing baseline information and constraints (such as planning designations and environmental factors)
- undertaking initial Stage 1 site identification.
All sites will be assessed in a consistent and transparent way, in line with national planning policy and guidance.
Draft HELAA Methodology Consultation
As part of the Local Plan Scoping Consultation, the Council is consulting on the Draft HELAA methodology.
The methodology sets out the process and criteria that will be used to identify and assess sites submitted through the Call for Sites process and other potential development opportunities across the borough.
We are seeking views on whether the methodology provides a clear, consistent and transparent approach to site assessment.
The Draft HELAA methodology has been prepared having regard to national planning policy and planning practice guidance. It will guide the assessment of sites until any future Government-led standardised site assessment process is introduced.
Consultation Period
Monday 13 July 2026 to Monday 24 August 2026 11.59pm
All representations must be received by the closing date.
View the Consultation Documents
How to Respond
Representations can be made:
- online, through the council’s consultation portal - Draft HELAA Methodology
- by email to planningpolicy@slough.gov.uk - please include "HELAA Methodology" in the subject line)
- by post to Planning Policy Team, Slough Borough Council, Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough, SL1 2EL.
Please email planningpolicy@slough.gov.uk if you need any assistance.