The Planning Policy team draw upon key reports and strategies that provide evidence about the profile of Slough and its surrounding area.
Public Transport Accessibility Levels
This PTAL report looks at the relative accessibility of areas within the borough to public transport. “PTAL” is a well-known method used by Transport for London and boroughs across London to help plan housing densities and parking provision (TFL, 2015). It forms part of the evidence base for the Emerging Spatial Strategy, a report on which was presented to Planning Committee on 21 February 2018.
Interim Sustainability Appraisal
A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) has been carried out to assess the extent to which the emerging Spatial Strategy will help to achieve a set of environmental, economic and social objectives.
A report on the strategy was approved at Planning Committee on 1st November 2017.
Berkshire Economic Development Needs Assessment
The Berkshire Economic Development Needs Assessment was produced jointly with the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the other Berkshire unitary authorities. It provides information about the local economy and identifies how much land may be required for employment growth over the next 20 years. The six unitary authorities will use the findings of the study, referred to as an Economic Development Needs Assessment ('EDNA') to inform Local Plan policy, and work with each other and neighboring councils to plan for land use needs of the future economy.
This report was produced in September 2016.
Berkshire Functional Economic Areas
The Berkshire Functional Economic Areas study preceded the Economic Development Needs Assessment.
This study divided Berkshire into three smaller geographical areas (Western Berkshire, Central Berkshire and Eastern Berkshire) within which economic relationships were strongest. These were called Functional Economic Market Areas (FEMAs) and could be described as the 'catchment areas' within which drivers of the economy and their key markets operated.
The second part of the study applied further analysis alongside the FEMA work to identify the future quantity of land or floor space required for economic development both within each FEMA and Unitary Authority area.
If you would like more information about this process please visit Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Berkshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment
The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) informs the understanding of housing markets across Berkshire. Using a range of evidence and analysis, this report drew conclusions about the amount and types of homes needed across the area up to 2036. The Berkshire SHMA was produced jointly with the other Authorities in Berkshire and the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The report concluded that Slough Borough Council is in a ‘best fit’ Housing Market Area with Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks, and that Slough has an Objectively Assessed Housing Need (unconstrained demand) for 927 dwellings a year up to 2036.
SHMAs are a purely technical study of how many homes may be needed, and are the starting point for a wider discussion.
- Presentation of findings of the Berkshire strategic housing market assessment Oct 2015
- Berkshire (including South Bucks) strategic housing market assessment report Feb 2016.
Centre of Slough Strategy
The Centre of Slough Strategy sets out the council’s vision for the centre of Slough.
This strategy was created in line with Slough Borough Council’s Five Year plan. This plan states the council’s overall ambition for Slough to be:
A place where people choose to live and work and where children can grow up to achieve their full potential;
One of the most attractive places to do business in the country, with excellent communications, business accommodation and a skilled and available workforce.
The geographical scope of this strategy covers a wider area than the high street and “Town Centre Area” used for planning and other purposes to date. Although it is not a planning document it is intended to be used to inform the way the centre is developed in the emerging Local Plan.
This document is an extract of the strategy that was adopted by the Council in September 2015.
Thames Valley Berkshire Strategic Economic Plan
The Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Strategic Economic Plan sets out a long-term blueprint for economic growth within the sub-region. This plan has been used to inform the Economic Development Needs Assessment, including the sub division to three more connected areas, and how many new jobs will be created over the next few years.
This plan was produced in in May 2014.