Shaping the Future of Industrial Decarbonisation.

Unlocking low-carbon growth, investment opportunity and long-term value at scale

Slough has long been a place where innovation meets delivery. Home to one of Europe’s largest trading estates, the borough supports thousands of jobs across manufacturing, logistics, technology and energy.

Today, Slough is building on that legacy, positioning the Trading Estate and wider borough as a leading platform for low-carbon industrial growth that is both ambitious and practical. This is decarbonisation as opportunity: creating high-value investment prospects, supporting business competitiveness, targeting critical climate goals, and delivering the skilled jobs needed for a resilient, future-ready economy.

A live platform for innovation

The Slough Trading Estate offers scale, diversity and long-term stewardship — ideal for testing and deploying low-carbon solutions in real operating conditions. It provides a platform to demonstrate what works at scale and inform approaches that could be replicated across the UK and beyond.

Beyond the Trading Estate, Slough is already delivering decarbonisation infrastructure at scale. Notable examples include:

• Slough Multifuel Energy‑from‑Waste facility, generating electricity and steam from residual waste while diverting material from landfill.

• Council-backed solar PV installations on public buildings, such as Langley Leisure Centre, reducing operating costs and cutting carbon emissions by tens of tonnes per year.

These tangible, operational projects showcase the borough’s commitment to low-carbon growth and create a credible foundation for further innovation.

Emerging opportunities

Building on this delivery, Slough is exploring additional low-carbon technologies and approaches as markets, policy and technology mature, including:

• District heat networks to capture and reuse industrial waste heat

• Industrial symbiosis, turning waste streams into resources

• Hydrogen energy for potential industrial applications

• Carbon capture and utilisation, where technically and commercially viable

These remain forward-looking opportunities, designed to scale proven concepts and deliver replicable, investable outcomes.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration at Slough Borough Council, explains: “The Trading Estate and wider borough provide a rare combination of scale, diversity and connectivity. Together, they offer a platform to demonstrate how industrial areas can evolve to support low-carbon growth while continuing to deliver jobs and investment.”

Delivering low-carbon growth now

Investment by SEGRO has transformed over 107,000 sq ft of industrial space, including nine flexible units ranging from 2,000–10,000 sq ft for growing businesses and 32,000–45,000 sq ft for established occupiers. These units deliver modern, low-carbon workspace designed for today’s occupiers and future environmental standards.

Features include:

• BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+ ratings

• Air source heat pumps, smart controls, and 21,000 sq ft of rooftop solar PV

• EV charging on 20% of parking spaces and secure cycle/e-bike facilities

These measures reduce operational carbon, cut energy costs, and support sustainable commuting.

A compelling proposition for investors

Demand is strong: SEGRO secured 12 lettings in four months, across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, immersive tech, and specialist contracting. This diversity underlines the estate’s adaptability and appeal to forward-looking businesses.

Slough presents a compelling opportunity for infrastructure-led investment in industrial decarbonisation, particularly for:

• Infrastructure and clean tech funds, such as Macquarie, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Equitix)

• Industrial corporates in energy transition, including ENGIE, EDF, Siemens Energy, Johnson Matthey

• Public and multilateral partners: UK Government, Innovate UK, European Investment Bank

With existing infrastructure, operational projects, and a pipeline of scalable low-carbon technologies, investors can deploy capital into solutions that are both impactful and commercially viable.

Setting a credible benchmark

As Europe’s largest privately-owned business park in single ownership, with more than a third of buildings under 10 years old, Slough Trading Estate has the scale, agility and momentum to lead the industrial decarbonisation agenda.

By combining current delivery (Multifuel facility, solar PV, low-carbon industrial units) with forward-looking opportunities (district heat, industrial symbiosis, hydrogen and carbon capture), Slough offers a credible, investable model for low-carbon industrial growth that can be replicated nationally and internationally.