On Tuesday 29th September, Muse Developments, in partnership with Slough Borough Council, hosted its first online community forum to discuss plans to regenerate the former Thames Valley University site in Slough. The forum was advertised on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, in the Slough Express, the Slough Observer and on the project’s consultation website. In total, 35 residents attended the sessions.
The forum provided an opportunity for Muse Developments and Slough Borough Council to provide an introduction to the planned development and to listen to local residents to find out how they’d like to see the site developed. The forum is part of a wider consultation regarding the plans to bring the site back into use.
To date, the project website has been visited over 4,200 times, and we have received over 470 comments.
The key issues raised by the forum attendees, which ranged from housing, traffic and public services, are provided below, as well as our responses. A copy of the forum presentation is available here. https://fortyshillingscloud.egnyte.com/dl/tlhSA0j2Ve.
Those unable to join the forum are still able to provide comments on the development website – https://northwestquadrant.commonplace.is/ – and there will be further events and engagement over the coming months.
Questions and issues raised by the attendees
We set out below the main questions and issues raised in the forums, along with our response. They are set out in separate themes.
Slough Borough Council’s vision for the town centre
Q. Why is there a focus on building so many homes in this small central part of Slough?
A. The local plan has gone through a robust process of identifying potential sites across the borough to ensure the demand for housing in Slough can be met. Brownfield sites like the former Thames Valley University site are ideal for regeneration, providing the space to help meet our housing target whilst benefitting from close proximity to the local high street and public transport services. It’s important that sites in sustainable central locations such as the former Thames Valley University site provide a larger share of housing than sites further away from the town centre.
Q. There are 9,000 homes planned for central Slough. How many of these homes have been built?
A. Currently 1,000 housing units have been built in the centre of Slough since the target of 9,000 was agreed in April 2016.
Benefits for the existing community
Q. How will this development affect school spaces and availability of GP appointments in the area?
A. We understand that local residents are concerned about developers providing homes in areas where services such as school and GP surgeries are overstretched, but by working in partnership with the Council we’re committed to providing for local services as part of our obligations to the local area. This will be considered further as the proposals are developed further.
Q. Could you look at purpose-built youth centre, cultural facilities or a return to university or high education on the site?
A. Community facilities are important to activating the project and building engagement with local residents, however, we’re at an early stage of design and are not able to commit to any specific use at this stage. If you’d like to see our plans incorporate specific uses such as a youth-centre, then we encourage you to go to our website and have your say.
Housing
Q. What percentage of the development will be affordable housing?
A. The number of affordable homes will be confirmed during the planning process, however, we see the provision of on-site affordable housing as an important part of the project, and the proposals are being brought forward on that basis.
Traffic and parking
Q. Could a multi-storey car park be made available on the high street or Burlington Avenue?
A. We’ve looked at several sites including Burlington Avenue as potential sites for communal car parking. More information can be found in Slough Borough Council’s Slough Regeneration Framework. Click here to view.
Q. What percentage of homes will have their own parking spaces?
A. We’re at an early stage of the development and cannot provide a specific number at this stage.
We will work with Slough Borough Council’s transport team, however, and coordinate with other developments in the town centre to ensure we provide the appropriate amount of parking that balances the demand for parking with the need to reduce congestion in the town centre and improve air quality. The council is currently reviewing its policies towards car parking on new developments and will be putting out its transport strategy to consultation with local residents in the near future.
Public services
Q. With all the new housing planned for Slough what are your plans regarding infrastructure such as, GP surgeries, school places and roads?
A. This will be assessed as part of the creation of the Local Plan with a focus on supporting the growth in the area with regards to the projected number of homes and commercial space coming forward across the town centre. Further information on the council’s local plan will be available as part of its public consultation which starts on 9th November 2020.
Employment in Slough
Q. Slough Borough Council are proposing an innovation hub and a skills hub for Central Slough. What’s the difference between the two of them?
A. The innovation hub will support and grow start-up digital tech businesses. Individuals will gain specialist support and guidance around commercialising their products and in research and development of products. Meanwhile, the Future Skills Hub will support unemployed people to retrain, upskill or search for new employment. The Hub will provide expert advice and provide information on courses in Further Education and Higher Education that are relevant and appropriate to the individual’s needs.
Q. Will the impact of Covid and people working from home change design thoughts about office space?
A. We’re working closely with major corporate occupiers, property agents and consultants to understand what the likely future requirements will be and how office space will be used. It’s our intention that high quality, well-designed office space will remain an important part of the development.
We’ll take into consideration all the feedback we receive and the need to protect the health and wellbeing of the future staff when designing the offices.
Initial design ideas
Q. How tall will the buildings be?
A. A final decision on the height of the buildings has not been made but we are currently exploring options a range of options.
The height, density and massing of buildings within the North West Quadrant will be shaped by several factors including the Council’s recently approved Regeneration Framework Masterplan for the town centre, which includes the opportunity to deliver a landmark building.
The North West Quadrant is identified as one of the few major strategic sites within Slough that can help deliver larger numbers of homes, helping to meet housing need within Slough. Because of this it is important we get height, density and massing right. It is important, however, that all the buildings within the project are of a very high-quality design, and we are engaging the best team of professionals to deliver this.
The development process
Q. When will local residents be able to have their say on the project?
A. Residents have been able to have their say and find out more about our plans via our project website since July 2020. We’ll be working up our plans over the next six months and encourage you to get involved and make your voice heard.
We’ll continue to engage with local residents throughout the project through online community forums or via face to face meetings if possible. We’re also eager to meet with local community groups and would encourage those interested to get in touch by visiting the consultation website, emailing or giving us a call. The contact details are available below:
Website: https://northwestquadrant.commonplace.is/
Email address: hello@northwestquadrant.co.uk
Phone number: 0800 038 5850.
You can also follow the project on [include Instagram, Twitter link etc.]
Q. How will the project be funded?
A. The project is being delivered through a partnership between Slough Borough Council and the Morgan Sindall Group. Morgan Sindall Investments Limited has already delivered many projects in Slough including the Curve, Arbour Park and The Centre.
SUR has appointed Muse Developments, also part of the Morgan Sindall Group, as the development manager for the project. Muse is the UK’s leading light in mixed-use development and urban regeneration, with a range of major schemes across the country. Delivering innovative places through collaboration, Muse brings together the best of the public and private sector to deliver transformational change and maximise community benefit. A national developer – with regional operations in Manchester, London, Leeds and Glasgow. Morgan Sindall Group plc is a leading UK construction and regeneration group which operates through six divisions of Construction & Infrastructure, Fit Out, Property Services, Partnership Housing, Urban Regeneration and Investments.
Forum polls
Attendees were asked to participate in two polls during the forums, the results of which can be seen below:
Attendees generally supported the vision, and there was a wide range of opinions on what they would like to see provided as part of the development with outdoor spaces and community gardens at the top of the list.