focus on slough
proximity to major transport hubs such as Heathrow Airport, the Berkshire town has now emerged as a prime spot to live and work.”
Lalor and Chamberlain’s comments may be somewhat partial, but their words about Slough changing and emerging as ‘a prime spot to live and work’ are supported by very real and solid local developments and town regeneration improvements.
A promising future based on major nationally-strategic developments ...
Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLTH)
•
Subject to final development consent, work may start in 2019 on the proposed five-year 5.5km WRLTH which is set to cut airport journey times from Slough to Heathrow T5 to just seven minutes. It will also provide the Thames Valley with direct access to Heathrow and, via one interchange, 20% of the UK population.
Prime minister (and Maidenhead MP) Theresa May gave her backing for the WRLTH when questioned on it by Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi during Parliamentary PMQs on January 24.
“I believe there is very strong cross-party support for this link to Heathrow. It would reduce journey times from the southwest and could support the Thames Valley economy as well. Development funding has been committed for this project and the Dept of Transport will provide further detail on the timing in due course,” she replied.
Final statutory public consultation is being undertaken this spring before planning permission will be sought from the secretary of state through a Development Consent Order (DCO).
Consultations so far have gained detailed information on local needs and confirmed strong support for the proposed scheme from national and local stakeholders, says Network Rail, which is working closely with the Department for Transport on the estimated five-year development that includes a major tunnel under the M4.
Heathrow expansion •
In October 2016, the Government approved the principle of a third runway at Heathrow. The planning process on the nature of Heathrow’s proposed expansion – set to be Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project – is now firmly underway.
Over the past year, Heathrow has been working alongside local stakeholders and airline partners to evolve the plans it submitted to the Airports Commission.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2018
Key rail and road infrastructure projects
• The Elizabeth Line (formerly Crossrail) will arrive in Slough from 2019 providing travel directly between the business hearts of London and Slough, Langley and Burnham, and the wider Thames Valley.
• ‘Smart motorway’ improvements – an NSIP scheduled to complete in 2022 – are underway between M4 junctions 3-12. Slough is served by junctions 5-7.
SUR is helping to radically change perceptions of Slough by delivering a wide range of improved residential, commercial, educational, leisure, health and social infrastructure projects.
In the wake of Slough’s strikingly re- styled rail and bus stations, and The Curve – an architecturally dramatic showpiece public facility, incorporating a library, cultural space, registrar’s office, a theatre, performance space, and other civic amenities – SUR town
businessmag.co.uk 21
A parliamentary vote is anticipated in the first half of 2018 on a national policy statement for a proposed northwest runway at Heathrow.
As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), Heathrow’s expansion will need to be authorised via a development consent order.
This key NSIP project will boost UK airport capacity and provide more direct flights to UK destinations and up to 40 new cities abroad. Also, it is estimated to deliver an additional 77,000 local jobs over the next 14 years.
• The Slough Mass Rapid Transit (SMaRT) bus scheme is imminent. Backed by Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, SMaRT’s priority bus lane along the A4 will help ease Slough’s trafficflow and transportation.
... an ongoing town regeneration partnership ...
Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) – the joint venture between Slough Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments (MSIL) – is one-third through its 15-year partnership to deliver regeneration across the borough, and has already won numerous local and international awards.
Western Rail Link to Heathrow
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