We Asked, You Said, We Did

From September 2025 to October 2025, we invited Slough residents, professionals in the planning industry and key stakeholders for their views on our new local validation list. The survey aimed to ensure we got the balance right on our list of requirements for documents required for planning applications, and to make sure we had covered all the current legislation which our stakeholders work within.

The people who responded told us they thought the local validation list was clear and easy to understand. They also told us that it provided detailed information and links to assist users. Some respondents suggested additional requirements which would allow developments to be approved with more consideration to the built and natural environment of Slough.

We reviewed all of the responses and made amendments to the Local Validation List to include all of the suggested changes. This included adding new requirements relating to improving the environment near our waterways, promoting drainage solutions to prevent flooding, and encouraging developers to co-operate with residents in our neighbouring areas. We also changed some of the time limits for residents to send in their documents to give them time to engage with the right technical experts. On the 1^st January 2026, we adopted the new local validation list and have published it on our website - check out the Local Validation List webpages.

From April 2025 to June 2025, we invited Slough residents to complete our Assistive Technology (AT) survey. The survey aimed to gather your views on what you know about Assistive Technology in Slough and what support or information you would find most helpful.

Residents who responded told us they would like clearer, more detailed information about the different types of Assistive Technology available locally. Many residents also said they would welcome more training and guidance on how these technologies can help people stay safe and independent at home.

We are currently reviewing the survey findings in full. We will share an update on  the next steps in the near future.

The existing SPZ is due to expire in November 2024.

The council,  working with SEGRO, published a Draft SPZ (Simplified Planning Zone) for Slough Trading Estate for consultation in July and August this year.

The comments received have now been considered, and a list of these will be published on the 11th October. The Council welcomes the responses made, and considers no major modifications are needed.

The intention is to discuss the proposal at Cabinet on 21 October 2024. The Report will explain why it recommends that the new SPZ is adopted to replace the current one.

The next stage is formal notification of the intention to adopt, which we are sharing below. This will also be published in the local press. 

Town And Country Planning Act 1990
Notice of intention to adopt proposals for making of a Simplified Planning Zone at Slough Trading Estate 
Friday 11 October 2024

Slough Borough Council propose to adopt these scheme proposals without material modifications. Copies of the scheme proposals, and proposals are available for public inspection free of charge on the council's website or in person as follows :

• Slough Borough Council offices: Mon- Fri 9.30am - 4.45pm, Observatory House, Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2EL
• SEGRO Office : reception Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm, 258 Bath Road Slough Trading Estate Slough SL1 4DX
• Slough Museum: Check for opening times: 72 Buckingham Avenue Slough SL1 4PN

Slough Borough Council will adopt the proposals after 12 November 2024 .

We asked for your views on the council’s draft equality objectives. We asked if respondents agreed with each of the proposed objectives, to rank each objective in order of priority, if anything was missing from the objectives, and for any further comments relating to the objectives.

40 people responded to the consultation. 67.5% of respondents were residents, 72.5% regularly worked in Slough, and 50% worked for Slough Borough Council.

There was strong support for the three objectives focused on residents, with 80-90% strongly agreeing or agreeing with the objectives. There was less support for the two objectives focused on the council’s workforce, with 65-72.5% strongly agreeing or agreeing. The three resident-focused objectives were ranked as the most important, with the two focused on children and young people being ranked as the two most important. There was a variety of additional comments from respondents, particularly on community safety and risks to women being missing from the objectives, the correlation between housing and health inequality, and the potential to combine the two children and young people focused objectives into one objective.

An analysis of the consultation responses was presented to Cabinet on 15 April 2024 and can be read on the council’s website.

Changes were made to the objectives following feedback from the public consultation, stakeholders, additional data, and the LGA Equality Framework. Key changes relating to the consultation responses included combining the two objectives focused on children and young people into one objective, the addition of a new objective focused on community safety (particularly in relation to women and girls), and the specific mention of housing in relation to health inequalities. The objectives focused on the council’s workforce were also rewritten to reflect the LGA Equality Framework. The updated objectives and more detail on the changes can be read in the cabinet report.

Cabinet approved the updated objectives on 15 April 2024. Further information and reports on equalities can be found on the equality and diversity page on the council’s website.