Slough Borough Council has begun the first formal stage of preparing a new Local Plan, asking residents, businesses and community groups to set out what the blueprint for the borough should cover and how the authority should engage with the public as the work progresses.
How to get involved and key dates
The council’s scoping consultation runs from Monday 13 July to Monday 24 August. Feedback is being taken through the council’s online consultation portal. For those who need to view paper copies, documents can be seen by appointment at four locations across the borough.
| Where to view documents | Access |
|---|---|
| Observatory House | Paper copies by appointment |
| Britwell Community Centre | Paper copies by appointment |
| Langley Library | Paper copies by appointment |
| The Curve | Paper copies by appointment |
Participants can also sign up for updates as the plan advances, including details of future consultations, the independent examination by a planning inspector and, in due course, formal adoption.
What the Local Plan means for Slough
A Local Plan guides decisions on where homes, jobs, community facilities and infrastructure should go, and sets the rules used to determine planning applications. The scoping stage is about identifying the issues the plan should tackle and the ways people want to be involved. In practice, this could encompass matters such as the balance of housing types, town centre uses, employment land, design standards, open space, transport connections and climate resilience. While this early consultation will not allocate specific sites, it is the point at which the council can capture local priorities before detailed policies are drafted.
- Dates: 13 July to 24 August
- How to respond: Council consultation portal or paper copies (by appointment)
- Stay informed: Register for notifications on later stages, including examination
Related planning activity in and around the borough
Alongside the consultation, a separate planning application has been lodged with Slough Borough Council for 22–28 Windsor Road. The proposal would clear the existing buildings and deliver a five-storey mixed-use scheme. The scheme details include 18 flats — nine one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and one three-bedroom home — above five ground-floor commercial units. The plans also outline private outdoor space, cycle storage, refuse facilities and landscaping. As with any planning submission, residents can review the documents and make comments through the council’s planning portal within the statutory timescales.
Separately, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has received an application to vary the premises licence for Windsor Royal Shopping Centre. The request would extend the licensed area to include external spaces at Windsor Yards and permit activities including live and recorded music and dance performances on Fridays and weekends, as well as daily film screenings on selected days. Representations on this licence variation can be made to RBWM’s licensing team by 2 August.
Transport notice: overnight closure on Riding Court Road
Two temporary road closures have also been notified. One of these affects Riding Court Road, which will be shut overnight from its junction with the Riding Court Business Park access road for approximately 100 metres southwards between 8pm and 6am from 13–18 July. This is to allow the installation of new technology equipment. An alternative signed route is in place, using local roads including Riding Court Road, Ditton Road, the A4 London Road, Langley Roundabout and the B470 Majors Farm Road. Drivers should allow extra time and follow on-street signage.
Why taking part matters
Input at this formative stage helps the council understand local expectations before it drafts detailed policies. Well-evidenced submissions from residents, community groups and businesses can influence how the plan addresses housing mix, employment opportunities, the future of shopping areas, transport and active travel routes, and the protection of valued spaces. The plan will later be scrutinised independently to ensure it meets national requirements and is supported by an evidence base. Early engagement can reduce misunderstandings later and make it easier to resolve issues before the plan is examined.
Anyone wishing to participate should read the scoping documents in full and respond through the specified channels. Those without internet access can use the paper copies by appointment at the named venues. For licensing and planning items not handled by Slough Borough Council, such as the Windsor Royal Shopping Centre licence variation, representations must be sent to the relevant authority within the published deadlines.
InfoRadar will continue to track the Local Plan timetable, related planning applications and any changes to the programme, and will publish further details when consultation findings and next steps are confirmed by the council.
