focus on slough
council’s leisure strategy and it has invested significantly in a series of major projects. We are currently in the process of delivering a new £26m leisure facility on Farnham Road with a 25m swimming pool, sports hall, gym and exercise studios. We are also refurbishing the Montem Ice Arena, home of the Slough Jets. New facilities here will include a café, activity zone and changing facilities. The extension of Langley Leisure Centre and refurbishment of Salt Hill Ten Pin is also to follow later in 2017.
Small sites. Many developers are criticised for buying sites and leaving them to increase in value while local people are forced to live among hoarded vacant plots. However, SUR is forging ahead with the delivery of new quality council homes for the people of Slough, helping to reduce housing waiting lists. We are progressing with 24 infill sites, which will now be used for building new, and extending existing, council homes. In total over 120 new properties will be built in a series of phases. Work has already commenced on the first sites and we continue to drive forward this important element of the council’s wider housing strategy in 2017.
Residential schemes. In summer 2016 we launched Milestone, our first residential development comprising a collection of 73 homes, a mixture of one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses. We are already seeing young professionals choosing Slough as their new home – enticed by the town’s superb connections and by the huge regeneration they can see taking place here.
The scheme is now 90% sold and has been incredibly well received. The significant majority of purchasers here have been local first-time buyers – meeting the Council’s objective to provide housing for local people. What’s more we have actively pursued a policy of only selling to owner occupiers, ensuring we create communities. Our next scheme, Wexham Green is under construction and sales are due to launch this spring – a collection of two, three and four-bedroom houses in an attractive and leafy part of the town.
The old library site. Now that The Curve building is open, SUR is planning the redevelopment of the old library site, which will include two Marriott hotels, 60 high-quality apartments and ground-floor retail at the western end of the high street. Located in the heart of Slough, this will enhance the high street and have a positive impact on the evening economy here.
Slough Basin. Working in partnership with the specialist developer Waterside Places, plans are currently being developed for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Slough Basin area, including the canal and towpath and part of Bowyer Field. The delivery of over 250 new homes are planned within the scheme, along with a shop, café and community hub overlooking the Grand Union Canal.
Councillor Zaffar Ajaib, commissioner for housing and urban renewal, said “This is all about placemaking, for many years our aspiration has been to turn the canal basin into something usable and attractive – and with SUR’s proposals we can do this.”
Looking to the future
Hopefully, these projects alone demonstrate just how much is happening and how much will change across the borough. Through our pipeline of new projects and initiatives we are making Slough an increasingly attractive place to both live and work. We are helping to improve the quality of life for the town’s residents and we are also helping to attract new people to the area too – widening the local talent pool and giving the town a new energy and impetus.
At SUR, we are committed to the long-term future of Slough. We are passionate about continuing to meet the council’s ambitious and insightful plans, which have the town’s residents and their wellbeing at its heart. We are excited to see the positive transformation taking place and we look forward to being an integral part of Slough’s prosperous future.
For more information on Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) and to explore our wider masterplan for the borough visit the website:
slough-thinkingforward.co.uk THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2017
businessmag.co.uk 23 Milestone exterior
Ice Arena
Milestone interior
Wexham Green
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
