Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) Methodology Consultation

Overview

Slough Borough Council is consulting on the proposed methodology that will be used to prepare the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA). 

The HELAA is an important part of the evidence base for the Slough Local Plan 2026–2046. It helps identify land that may be suitable, available and achievable for housing, employment and other uses. The assessment does not allocate land for development or determine planning applications. 

The draft methodology explains how the Council will identify, assess and evaluate potential development sites. It also explains how national planning guidance and local circumstances will be taken into account as part of the assessment process. 

The Council is particularly interested in views on: 

• Site size thresholds 

• The approach to assessing constraints 

• The proposed windfall allowance 

• The overall assessment methodology 

All responses received during the consultation period will be considered before the methodology is finalised. 

The draft HELAA methodology can be viewed below.

Why your views matter

Your feedback will help ensure that the methodology used to assess sites is robust, transparent and based on an appropriate assessment framework. 

Comments received will be considered before the final methodology is adopted and used to inform the preparation of the Slough Local Plan 2026–2046. 

Part of the Local Plan Scoping Consultation 

This HELAA Methodology Consultation forms part of the Slough Local Plan 2026–2046 Scoping Consultation. Alongside this document, the Council is seeking views on a range of supporting documents that will help shape the preparation of the new Local Plan. Details of all current consultations can be found on the Local Plan Engagement and Consultation webpage. 

Data Protection 

The information you provide as part of this consultation will be used to inform the preparation of the Slough Local Plan 2026–2046 and related evidence base documents. 

Slough Borough Council is committed to the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Personal information provided as part of your response will be processed in accordance with the Council's Privacy Notice. 

Consultation responses will be used to support evidence-based decision making and may be summarised in reports published as part of the Local Plan process. Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Council's data protection policies. 

We will only retain personal information for as long as necessary and in accordance with the Council's retention and information security procedures. 

Please refer to our Privacy Notice for further information about how we collect, use and protect your personal data. 

If you have any questions about how we handle your personal information, please contact the Data Protection Officer at DataProtectionOfficer@slough.gov.uk.