Slough Local Plan Scoping Matters Consultation Document

Overview

Slough Borough Council is preparing a new Local Plan covering the period 2026–2046. The Plan will set out a vision and strategy for how the Borough will grow and develop over the next 20 years, including where new homes, jobs, infrastructure  and community facilities should be located. 

We are seeking views on the scope and content of the new Local Plan at an early stage of its preparation. This includes the key issues, opportunities and challenges that the Plan should address, as well as how the Council should engage with residents, businesses and stakeholders throughout the plan-making process. 

The consultation includes: 

• Slough Local Plan Scoping Matters Consultation Document  

• Draft Engagement Strategy

About the Slough Local Plan Scoping Matters Consultation Document 

The Slough Local Plan Scoping Matters Consultation Document sets out: 

• What the Council needs to do under the new plan-making regulations  

• The planning issues and topics that the Local Plan may need to address  

• How existing evidence and previous work can inform the new Local Plan  

• How residents, businesses and stakeholders can help shape the new Local Plan 

• The next steps in preparing the Local Plan 

About the Draft Engagement Strategy 

The Draft Engagement Strategy sets out how the Council proposes to involve local communities and stakeholders throughout the preparation of the Local Plan. It also seeks views on whether the proposed approach to engagement is clear and appropriate, and how participation in future Local Plan consultations can be widened and improved. 

Supporting consultations and evidence-gathering exercises 

Alongside the Scoping Matters Consultation Document and Draft Engagement Strategy, the Council is currently undertaking a number of related consultation and evidence-gathering exercises that will help inform the preparation of the new Local Plan, including: 

• Draft Conservation Area Character Appraisals  

• Call for Sites 2026 

• Draft Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) Methodology 

Details of all current consultations and engagement activities can be found on the 

Local Plan Engagement and Consultation webpage. 

The consultation documents can be viewed below. 

Evidence Base and Previous Plan-Making Work 

The Scoping Matters Consultation Document has been informed by a range of evidence and previous planning work, including: 

Evidence Base Documents 

• Slough 2040 

• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 

• Health and Wellbeing Strategy 

Previous Plan-Making Work 

• Setting of the Castle Study 

• Simplified Planning Zone 

• Protecting the Suburbs Strategy (June 2020) 

• Sustainability Appraisal of the Proposed Spatial Strategy of Slough 

• Valuing the Benefits from Trees in Slough, Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (March 2019) 

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

Why your views matter

This consultation represents the first stage in preparing the Slough Local Plan 2026–2046. 

Your comments will help shape the direction of the new Local Plan and inform the evidence, options and planning policies that are developed in later stages of the plan-making process. 

The Council would like to understand whether consultees agree with the issues, opportunities and challenges identified in the Scoping Matters Consultation Document, and whether there are other matters that should be considered as the Local Plan is prepared. 

We also welcome views on the Draft Engagement Strategy to help ensure that future consultation and engagement activities are effective, inclusive and accessible. 

All comments received during the consultation period will be considered as part of the preparation of the new Local Plan.