focus on slough
regeneration projects amounting to more than £1 billion are underway:
• In October last year, the final resident moved into Milestone – SUR’s first and flagship residential development on the former Town Hall site – a now 100% owner-occupied complex of 73 homes, one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses. SUR is progressing its second residential scheme, Wexham Green a collection of 104 two, three and four-bedroom homes. The first phases are now occupied and further phased sales are ongoing.
• Through a combined sites initiative, SUR is transforming a selection of disused, small sites into new council housing. Phase one is now complete with a second phase of 16 units under construction. Phases three (25 units) and four (43 units) are progressing through planning.
• A massive redevelopment scheme potentially including 1,400 new homes and Grade A office space is planned for the former Thames Valley University site at the Bath Road and Stoke Road junction, which Slough Borough Council bought in March 2017.
• Further residential housing is anticipated across further SUR sites including Stoke Wharf, a proposed development of circa 240 homes near the Grand Union Canal, set to be delivered in partnership with specialist developer Waterside Places.
• The town’s former central library site is set to be transformed by a mixed-use development including two new Marriott hotels – Moxy and Residence Inn – with over 240 rooms, a ground floor restaurant and bar plus further residential development in this landmark High Street location between the station and town centre.
• SUR is also delivering the council’s major investment programme in leisure facilities to encourage more active healthy lifestyles. Having successfully improved Arbour Park amenities, work is now underway on extending and refurbishing the town’s Ice Arena; a new wet and dry leisure centre on Farnham Road; a new gym and refurbishment at Langley Leisure; and conversion of Absolute Ten-Pin to a family activity centre in Salt Hill Park.
• An ongoing multi-million pound investment in primary and secondary school buildings, extensions and new schools. For example, work progresses on Wexham Secondary School’s major expansion, due to complete this year. A new three-storey teaching block will provide 29 new classrooms, staff workrooms, a new student reception, welfare facilities, library, sixth form study centre, and enable the creation of two new science laboratories.
22
businessmag.co.uk
The Porter Building
... plus market-leading office developments ...
• Directly opposite Slough Railway Station, The Porter Building, a major four-storey new-build office development launched in November last year, embodies the town’s new progressive business nature – and it’s WELL different. At 120,000 sq ft, The Porter Building is Slough’s second largest office building after O2’s Bath Road HQ – but the first in the UK to achieve WELL Core and Shell ‘gold’ certification. Designed within a Landid and Brockton Capital joint venture to meet BREEAM sustainable environment standards, The Porter Building has now achieved WELL Building Standard certification, an internationally recognised ‘healthy’ building rating, focused on human health and wellbeing in the built environment.
• The Future Works, next to Slough bus and train station, is a 2.5 acre three phase 350,000 sq ft Grade A office development by U+I and AshbyCapital, Its first construction phase, set to complete this summer, will provide 99,862 sq ft of prime office space, and is set to achieve a Platinum
WiredScore connectivity rating, the highest level achievable.
• The first major office development in Slough for several years – 25 Windsor Road – was completed last summer, providing a new Grade A 111,000 sq ft six-storey office headquarters at the former Observatory House. The XLB/LRE Capital development has exceptional town centre parking facilities along with high standard workspace, with open-plan floorplates, and contemporary, modern finishes throughout.
... and beneficial regional business trends
At the end of January, GVA’s Crossrail Property Impact & Regeneration Study: 2012 – 2026 Report concluded that the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) will have a much greater beneficial impact on London and the South East than previously predicted. The major infrastructure rail project is already rejuvenating towns along its route, attracting more businesses and residents, bringing new homes and offices, growth and opportunities.
CoStar property market analysis reveals that many more occupiers are now consolidating their disparate offices, “reassessing locations that will be served by the Elizabeth Line.” CoStar acknowledges SUR’s development progress and that Slough’s recent town centre developments are “well- positioned to capitalise on any Crossrail- induced office demand.” Last year, Slough also recorded one of the highest rates of Berkshire and North Hampshire office rental growth, its average rents being around 5% above the market average.
South East business space agent RARE also highlighted the Elizabeth Line as driving decisions. RARE said prime
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2018
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
