This post explores how Slough is already moving in that direction, what opportunities there are, what challenges need solving, and what might make this kind of development work well for people in Slough.

What are Disused Industrial & Brownfield Sites?

First, what terms like “disused industrial sites” and “brownfield” mean — to make sure we’re on the same page.

• Industrial/disused industrial sites: factories, works, warehouses, repair shops, showrooms etc., that are no longer in full operation or abandoned. Sometimes roofs leak, doors closed, machines gone.
• Brownfield sites: land that was previously developed (industrial, commercial, or other built uses), and now is empty or underused. It may have issues like soil contamination, infrastructure that needs repairing, or old buildings to demolish or adapt.

These sites are often near transport, roads, or in areas with services already in place — which is good. But they may also need cleaning, planning, investment.
Slough has quite a few brownfield/disused sites. The council keeps a Brownfield Register, listing land that is suitable or potentially suitable for residential development. That gives a starting map for what could be reused.

Some Examples in Slough: Where Change Is Already Happening

Slough isn’t just talking about brownfield reuse — there are real projects showing how disused industrial land can become something better.

• Horlicks Quarter
  This was an old factory (the Horlicks Factory) site. It closed in 2018.
  Now it is being transformed into a neighbourhood: over 1,300 homes (private & affordable), public open spaces, a nursery, café, shops, green landscaping. The historic parts (factory building, chimney, clock tower, war memorial) are restored, kept as heritage.
  It shows how preserving history and industrial character can go together with building homes and community space.
• Bath Road Redevelopment
  A brownfield stretch on Bath Road, currently with some shops and car showroom, is proposed to be redeveloped into about 291 new homes. The plan includes better public space, landscaping, better connections (walking, cycling) and aims to improve how the area looks & feels.
  The proposals have been adjusted to reduce building height and better fit with the character of neighbouring areas. This is a sign that community input and sensitivity matters.
• Canal Basin / Stoke Wharf
  A brownfield site known as Stoke Wharf (or the Canal Basin) is being laid out for redevelopment. Plans include 312 homes, affordable housing units, canal‑side public realm improvements, commercial or retail uses, better pedestrian links.
  This is by Slough Urban Renewal plus private developers. It shows how disused industrial land along waterways can become mixed‑use, helping both housing and public space.
• Queensmere & Observatory Shopping Centre Site (Slough Town Centre Redevelopment)
  Slough’s town centre regeneration plan proposes redeveloping the Queensmere / Observatory shopping centres and nearby land into a mixed‑use scheme with homes, shops, leisure, public spaces. About 1,600 new homes are part of these plans.
  It aims to improve connections, public realm, pedestrian and cycle routes, more green open space in the town centre.

These examples show Slough is already using some disused industrial or brownfield land, reimagining them into mixed‑use, greener, more liveable spaces.

What Opportunities These Sites Bring

Why is reusing disused industrial land exciting? What benefits could Slough get if done well?

• Homes where people need them: Slough has housing demand. Many brownfield sites are near transport, shops, schools. Building homes on them reduces need to build on green belt land or further out.
• Affordable housing: Mixed‑use projects can include affordable housing for people on lower incomes, helping with housing inequality.
• Jobs & local economy: Redevelopment brings construction jobs first; then shops, cafés, services, retail units, offices when completed. Local businesses pick up when more people are living there.
• Better public space & environment: Including parks, gardens, landscaping turns dull old plots into pleasant neighbourhoods. Greener spaces help air, reduce heat, improve mental well‑being.
• Heritage & character: Old factories or buildings often have architectural or historic value. Restoring or adapting them retains identity, avoids “erasing” past.
• Sustainability: Reusing existing buildings or land rather than building entirely from new can reduce carbon costs. Infrastructure (roads, utilities) already exists in many brownfield areas, so using those saves cost and environmental impact.
• Mixed‑use vitality: When homes, shops, community spaces, offices are co‑located, the area stays alive at more hours: mornings, evenings. That helps reduce crime, improves feelings of safety, improves quality of life.
• Better transport & connectivity: Brownfield redevelopment often includes improvements to roads, pedestrian & cycle paths, public transport links. That makes neighbourhoods more walkable, less car‑dependent.

What Needs to Be Done Right: Challenges & Key Considerations

Redeveloping disused industrial land isn’t easy. There are real costs, risks, and things to manage to make sure the outcome is good for people and the place.

• Remediation & Contamination
  Industrial uses may have left pollution in soil (oil, chemicals, heavy metals). Before building, land may need cleaning, testing, remediation. That adds cost and time.
• Planning and Regulations
  Permissions needed: planning permission, design approvals, zoning, heritage protections. These can slow things down.
  Local plans must guide what kinds of use allowed, what density, how tall buildings are, whether green space required. Slough’s Local Plan includes policy to focus intense development in areas with good public transport accessibility, and to reuse brownfield land.
• Infrastructure Strain
  New homes increase demand for schools, roads, GP practices, transport, utilities (water, power, waste). If infrastructure is not upgraded, quality of life may suffer.
  Also, mixing usage (housing + business + retail) needs careful traffic planning, parking, waste management.
• Design & Community Fit
  New developments need to respect character, heritage. Old buildings may have architectural features, materials worth keeping. Otherwise, redevelopment may feel generic, losing sense of place.
  Also, taller buildings may cast shadows, change light, privacy for neighbours—these issues often trigger community concern.
• Financing & Affordability
  Developers need to make project financially viable. Remediation, heritage restoration, infrastructure costs make costs higher.
  Ensuring affordable housing is included often reduces profit margins, so public funding, subsidies or incentives may be needed.
• Sustainability & Environmental Concerns
  Green building standards (insulation, renewable energy, water management), waste, local biodiversity need to be incorporated.
  Also, managing flood risk, drainage, preserving trees, managing wildlife (birds, bats) may be necessary.
• Community Engagement
  Local residents often feel change deeply—concerns about noise during construction; about new residents changing local services; about traffic, privacy, green space loss.
  If communities are involved early, consulted, and their needs included (parks, play areas, community centers), developments are more likely to be welcomed.

How Slough Could Do More: Paths Forward

Given the opportunities & challenges, here are practical ideas and strategies Slough and its partners might follow to make disused industrial redevelopment work well.

• Strong Local Policy & Brownfield Register Use
  Use the Brownfield Register actively to identify and prioritize sites that are suitable for housing and mixed‑use.
  Ensure policies that require or reward sustainable design, affordable housing, community amenities.
• Public‑Private Partnerships (PPP)
  Local council working with developers, private firms, housing associations to share risk (especially cost of remediation or heritage restoration).
  Example: Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) is a partnership model.
• Reuse & Adaptation of Industrial Buildings
  Where old factory/warehouse buildings are strong, adapt them rather than demolish. Turn into loft apartments, artist studios, community halls, or mixed commercial + residential. Saves cost, preserves character.
  For example, Horlicks Quarter retains the old factory and clock tower.
• Mixed‑Use Masterplans with Green & Public Space
  Developments should include green corridors, playgrounds, parks, walking & cycling paths. These make neighbourhoods liveable and attractive.
  For example, in Canal Basin redevelopment, plans include canal‑side public realm improvements and park connections.
• Affordable Housing & Community Facilities
  Mix housing types: flats for singles or couples; houses for families. Affordable or social housing included.
  Also space for community needs: nursery, school, health centre, local shops, cafés, childcare. Horlicks Quarter includes a nursery and café as part of its plan.
• Sustainability Measures
  Renewable energy: solar panels, efficient heating/cooling.
  Green materials, water management (rain gardens, permeable paving), managing drainage.
  Electric vehicle infrastructure, cycle storage to reduce car dependency.
• Infrastructure & Transport Links
  Ensure sites are well connected: good public transport, road access, bike & walking routes.
  Make sure local services (shops, GP, schools) are nearby or planned alongside housing.
• Community Involvement & Heritage Respect
  Engage local people: ask what they need in terms of public space, shops, local flavour.
  Preserve heritage features: old facades, chimneys, brickwork, signage, if safe and possible. Makes new developments feel rooted in Slough’s story.
• Financial Support & Incentives
  Grants, subsidies, or tax relief for contaminated land remediation.
  Incentives for developers to include affordable housing or community space.
  Possible use of government programs focused on brownfield redevelopment, housing shortage.

How It Could Change Life for Slough Residents

What difference might revitalizing disused industrial land make in everyday life?

• More homes of different sizes, especially homes families can afford, close to transport and services. Reduces commuting, housing costs.
• Better access to amenities: shops, cafés, parks closer by; less need to travel far.
• Cleaner, safer neighbourhoods: replacing derelict or unused buildings may reduce vandalism, reduce eyesores, improve safety.
• More jobs: during construction; then in services, retail, cafés, maintenance.
• Better environment: more green spaces, cleaner air, less traffic if more people live near public transport / amenities.
• Stronger local identity: projects that preserve heritage, that engage the community, that have design quality make Slough feel more like home, more attractive.

Risks & What to Avoid

To avoid pitfalls, the following must be watched:

• Overcrowded development without infrastructure. If many homes are built but roads & schools aren’t upgraded, local residents can suffer.
• Losing affordable housing. Sometimes, projects are very luxury‑led; locals may be priced out or feel excluded.
• Poor quality design or construction. If materials are cheap, insulation poor, or buildings unfit, homes will have problems (heat loss, damp, energy bills).
• Ignoring heritage. If old buildings are demolished unnecessarily, Slough loses its character.
• Neglecting environmental concerns: flooding risk, biodiversity loss, removing green cover without replacing.
• Not involving community: local residents should have voice in what is built near them — access routes, appearance, usage, public spaces.

Where Slough is Already Positioned to Benefit

Slough has some strengths which make this kind of redevelopment more promising.

• Existing brownfield register & local strategy: Slough Borough Council already identifies brownfield land, has policies aiming to reuse brownfield rather than always greenfield.
• Partnerships in urban renewal: Slough Urban Renewal is working to deliver new homes, improvements in public spaces, connectivity, etc.
• Examples already underway like Horlicks Quarter or Canal Basin show success of combining heritage preservation, green spaces, mixed housing, and amenities.
• Strong demand for housing in central or well connected areas. People want homes nearer to transport, jobs. So well‑located brownfield sites have real market potential.
• Desire for sustainable living: more interest in greener buildings, energy efficiency, walkable neighbourhoods. Projects that deliver sustainability will likely be favoured.

A Vision for Slough’s Future: What Mixed‑Use Green Communities Might Look Like

To help imagine, here’s a picture of what a well‑built redevelopment of a disused industrial site could feel like in Slough:

You arrive by train or bus into Slough town centre. You walk through clean, wide pavements with trees, benches. You cross where footpaths connect through a restored site (once a factory yard), now filled with mid‑rise apartments, mixed with townhouses. Ground floors have cafés, local shops, maybe a small market space.

At one corner, the old factory is preserved: red brick, tall chimney, restored windows, repurposed inside as a community hall or art studios. Nearby children play in a small park that follows a piece of canal or stream that once was blocked. Rain gardens manage water runoff. Bicycle lanes and paths connect to nearby roads. Electric car charging points. Green roofs or panels on rooftops.

At night, soft lighting along paths, green trees illuminated gently; cafés lit up; people walking, neighbours meeting; no big silence, but peace. A mixed community of families, young people, retirees. Affordable homes as well as private ones. Shops serving daily needs. All within walking distance.
This isn’t fantasy — parts of Slough are moving in that direction.

What Can You Do: Local Voices & Involvement

As someone living in or caring about Slough, you have a part to play. Revitalizing old industrial sites isn’t something only developers or council can do — people matter.

• Get involved in consultations: when plans are public, read them, attend meetings, share your ideas about what you want: green space, shops, design, scale.
• Support local regeneration efforts: Vote, write, volunteer, collaborate. Suggest uses you want nearby: community gardens, play areas, affordable homes.
• Watch heritage: If a building is old and meaningful locally, speak up for its preservation.
• Less car dependence: When you support transport infrastructure, walking, cycling, it helps planers design less car‑focused communities.
• Demand quality: Good design, sustainable features, environmental care — ask for them. Consumers or residents can support developers or schemes that do this well.
• Think long term: Housing is important, but so are green spaces, community spaces, amenities. Advocate for mixed‑use, not just homes alone.

Slough’s Industrial Past Holds Seeds for a Green, Mixed Future

Slough’s industrial past is strong. But many of its old industrial sites, factories, warehouses, workshops that once hummed are now quiet. They are scars, or just spaces waiting. But they are also opportunities. Brownfield redevelopment, done thoughtfully, can bring homes, jobs, beauty, heritage and community back into those spaces.

Projects like Horlicks Quarter, Canal Basin, Bath Road, the plans for town centre mixed‑use all show how Slough can benefit. But doing it right matters: cleaning up old sites, ensuring infrastructure, respecting history, including affordable housing, designing for people, living sustainably.

If Slough can revive more of its industrial sites into places where people live, work, walk, meet, relax, it will not just be remaking land — it will be making Slough stronger, greener, more liveable, more hopeful.
For Slough residents, planners, investors, councillors — there is real chance here. Let’s map that revitalization together. Let’s see disused industrial sites not as derelict, but as places of possibility. Let’s build mixed‑use, green communities that carry both memory of Slough’s past, and hope for its future.