Developer outlines 'landmark' regeneration project in Slough town centre

Developers say the long-awaited regeneration of the Queensmere shopping centre will be a ’14-year build programme’ that could be completed in 2039.

Berkeley Homes completed a deal to buy the Queensmere Observatory shopping centres from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in June, and has now revealed its vision for the ‘landmark regeneration scheme’.

The housebuilder will revive stalled plans to build up to 1,600 new homes, shops and entertainment spaces, according to a ‘masterplan’ revealed to the Express today (Thursday).

Landscaped courtyards and walkable routes will reimagine Slough as a ‘greener, more integrated town centre’ with public spaces that celebrate its ‘rich history of innovation’.

A new Central Park and Herschel Square will commemorate the legacy of astronomer William Herschel through lighting and water features, and provide community spaces for events and markets.

Station Walk will connect the station to the High Street and emulate the site of the UK’s first zebra crossing in 1951.

Phase one of the development will also include a new food and beverage and leisure hub in the town square, and a new housing quarter with smaller retail units for independent retailers.

This is all part of the ‘hybrid’ shopping centre and residential development that ‘blends residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, and cultural spaces’ with a ‘more traditional town centre high street’.

Berkeley will submit a reserved matters application for the first phase by the end of the year, and Queensmere will close in January before demolition commences by the end of 2026.

The developer aims to start construction on the site in 2027, and is ‘looking at a 14-year build programme overall’, with the first homes occupied by 2030 and the final completion in 2039.

Freddie Hill, Head of Development, Berkeley Homes Oxford & Chiltern, said it is ‘unfortunate’ they must close the mostly vacant Queenmere to enable the development, but is optimistic that the new retail offering will balance the current significant number of food outlets.

“We are five years out from the first phase being completed, where there will be permanent retail available. What we are doing now with the design is creating flexibility and variety of unit sizes that will hopefully offer flexibility for retailers,” he told the Express.

“We are trying to create different hubs – we see the High Street being more retail and convenience-led, taking it back to more of a traditional High Street – and then we have allocated some streets for again retail and designed spaces that wouldn’t be suitable for food and beverage.

“We are thinking about it, and we certainly don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket and just go food and beverage because that wouldn’t deliver the vision and the place that we’re aspiring to do here.”

During construction, areas of the high street will remain ‘active’ through ‘meanwhile uses’ such as pop-up retail and food and beverage outlets, event spaces, and art murals on hoardings.

The Observatory shopping centre will also remain fully operational during the build, and the developer has ‘no short or medium term plans to change that’.

Berkeley Homes will soon be sharing outline plans for the transformation of Slough town centre via a public exhibition at The Observatory Shopping Centre from November 13.

Existing concerns from residents include being priced out of the town by the regeneration, as well as potential parking issues.

Mr Hill said this is ‘very much a town centre development’ and the council aspires to minimise parking as much as possible by potentially using the existing 830 spaces in the Observatory car park – which is currently only a third occupied.

The developer says it’s ‘early days’ and an investigation into parking is being carried out as the planning consent is for one space per three homes delivered through on-street, undercroft or even basement parking.

Moreover, the Queensmere development has committed to at least 75 affordable homes, which could increase in later phases, subject to funding.

“Affordable housing isn’t something that’s going to be ignored, and where we can do it, subject to viability, we will deliver it,” said Mr Hill.

“Our design celebrates Slough’s enduring spirit of opportunity and reinvention - honouring its past while shaping its future.

“We are confident that the core elements we’ve included within our masterplan will create a blueprint for a connected, resilient, and thriving Slough.

“A place where people can live, work, socialise, and grow in an environment that champions community, creativity, and sustainability.”