New Local Plan scoping consultation

New Local Plan scoping consultation

Slough Borough Council’s planning team want to raise awareness of a consultation open now called the ‘Scoping consultation’.

The purpose is to gather opinions and lived experiences on the issues to inform a ‘Local Plan’ for Slough, and a bespoke engagement plan on how to include the public, elected members and professionals on creating it.

The Local Plan covers the whole of Slough and will set out a vision and policies to guide decisions on planning applications and investment in the borough to 2046.

The council thinks the main issues are homes and jobs for our residents, getting better infrastructure, and dealing with pollution and the effects of climate change.

The Government may direct us to develop some of the Colne Valley Regional Park to build the third runway for Heathrow, and other parts to provide family homes. Do you agree?

These are just the big issues, but there are lots of smaller ones too - like making space for wildlife and protecting the heritage and suburbs our communities need to live healthy lives.

The consultation is running for eight weeks, and we want to get your views now so we can carry them forward within the timetable the Government has set for us.

There will be other opportunities to tell us what you think but this early-stage Scoping Consultation seeks views on the issues that the new Local Plan should address before we continue getting the evidence we need to create detailed policies, and a supporting map to show how these could be implemented across Slough.

We are also requesting sites that could help to do this and sharing a method for testing how to choose sites to include in the final Plan.

Comments can be made in relation to any, or all, of the following.

Scoping Document and Draft Engagement Strategy – the Scoping Document identifies the key planning issues, opportunities and priorities for the new Local Plan, while the Draft Engagement Strategy sets out how the council proposes to engage with residents, businesses and stakeholders throughout the plan-making process.

Draft HELAA Methodology – explains the process we want to follow to help decide if potential development sites could provide employment and housing or other uses.

Draft Conservation Area Character Appraisals – information about our protected built heritage, to help inform decision taking and policy making and conservation area management.

Call for Sites 2026 – invites landowners, developers, organisations and members of the public to suggest land that may have potential for future development or other uses. This could include housing, employment, infrastructure, community facilities, open space, environmental enhancements and other uses.

Councillor Wal Chahal, leader of the council and lead member for strategic planning, said: “The Local Plan will help shape how Slough grows and develops over the next 20 years, so it’s crucial we hear from people about what is important to them.

“The Call for Sites is an opportunity for landowners, developers, organisations and residents to identify land that may have potential for meeting future needs across the borough.

“The consultation offers the chance to guide development for future years, to be in the most suitable and sustainable locations, and to plan for the supporting infrastructure required, such as transport, education and health.”

The council encourages residents, businesses, community groups, developers and other stakeholders to share their views and help shape the future of Slough.

Comments can be submitted from now until Monday 24 August.

Read on our website what the Local Plan’s priorities are and why, and how we plan to include residents, organisations, and experts.

Take part by using the online surveys through the council's consultation portal.

Email planningpolicy@slough.gov.uk

Write to the Planning Policy Team, Slough Borough Council, Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough, SL1 2EL.

Find out more on the new Local Plan webpage.

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Kate Pratt
(Slough Council, Communications Manager, Slough)