The Slough Advantage: Unlocking Inclusive, National Growth Through Local Assets.

Slough has long been recognised as one of the UK’s most strategically located towns, but a recent roundtable, hosted at the London Real Estate Forum (LREF), has underlined just how significant its role could become in shaping both local and national prosperity. With Europe’s largest trading estate in single ownership, direct access to a global gateway airport, and multi-billion-pound infrastructure upgrades, Slough is positioning itself as a high-growth economic corridor with the potential to deliver inclusive benefits far beyond its borough boundaries.

The discussion, titled “The Slough Advantage – Leveraging Local Assets for Inclusive, National Impact”, brought together leaders from development, design, construction, and infrastructure sectors. The central message was clear: Slough must harness its location, assets, and youthful population to deliver housing, jobs, and sustainable growth while inspiring new aspirations across its communities.

A connected growth corridor

The town’s strategic assets are formidable. Heathrow Airport’s £10 billion expansion plan, the arrival of Crossrail, and the proposed Western Rail Link to London Paddington together create a powerful synergy. European evidence shows that every 10% increase in airport connectivity can generate a 0.5% rise in GDP and a 1.6% boost in employment – benefits Slough is uniquely placed to capture.

Local projects already demonstrate the potential scale. Renewal of Slough’s Special Planning Zone (SPZ) could generate £34.7 million annually in business rates and between 3,000 and 6,000 new jobs. Crossrail has already driven property value uplifts of up to 35% and unlocked more than 90,000 homes across the region, while the Western Rail Link could add £800 million in gross value added (GVA) and support 42,000 jobs.

Yet roundtable participants cautioned that connectivity alone is not enough. Without a clear and inclusive delivery model, Slough risks becoming transitory – a place people pass through rather than invest in. A recurring theme was the need to create mixed-use hubs, integrate skills pipelines, and ensure the town centre is reimagined as a vibrant civic and cultural space.

 

A young population, a new opportunity

One of Slough’s greatest strengths is its demographics. With the third-youngest population in the South East, the town has the chance to build a future workforce ready for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and green supply chains. But engagement with younger generations is not yet where it needs to be.

Speakers highlighted the importance of designing housing and infrastructure around future needs rather than current expectations. That means reducing reliance on cars, providing accessible and safe public transport, and creating spaces that are flexible, multi-functional, and culturally dynamic. Lessons from Ilford and other urban regeneration projects show that co-creation with young people – through apprenticeships, vocational training, and even cultural events – can shift perceptions and generate long-term loyalty to place.

Housing as investment, not accommodation

Slough currently faces pressing social challenges, with more than 1,500 residents in temporary accommodation. At the same time, the town has the land and planning capacity to deliver up to 15,000 new homes. Developers and housing specialists stressed that the focus must be on quality and affordability, not simply numbers.

Models such as co-living, build-to-rent, and discounted rental schemes were discussed as potential ways to retain the young population while ensuring intergenerational balance. High-quality affordable and key-worker housing is critical if Slough is to sustain the workforce required by its growing economic base.

Participants also pointed to the need for social and environmental infrastructure – green and blue grids, safe cycling routes, and pedestrian-friendly town centres. These not only improve liveability but also build the kind of reputation that attracts both inward investment and community pride.

A council perspective

From the council’s side, there was recognition that Slough has not always fully capitalised on its advantages. Too much space has historically been given over to roads rather than people, leaving the town centre underutilised. But momentum is shifting, with major redevelopment schemes underway and the potential for the borough to act as a municipal pioneer in how housing, jobs, and infrastructure are delivered together.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director at Slough Council, summed up the ambition: “Slough has the assets, the location, and the youthful energy to make a genuine national contribution. But to realise that potential, we need to think bigger and inspire aspiration – not just meet the current desires of our residents but build for the next generations by co-authoring with those who will inherit these places.”

The call to be bold

The roundtable concluded with a strong sense that Slough must be bolder in telling its story and shaping its future. That means establishing a development board to coordinate delivery, adopting innovative finance models to maximise opportunities, and placing education and next generation community engagement at the centre of regeneration.

Above all, participants agreed that Slough should not wait for permission but act decisively, learning from other airport economies like Amsterdam and Frankfurt while tailoring solutions to its own strengths. By doing so, the town can transform its reputation from an overlooked commuter hub into a nationally significant growth engine – one that is globally connected but locally rooted.