A decision has been received from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, not to call in the planning applications affecting the former Arbour Vale School site, for an inquiry.

A new community sports stadium, major improvements to sporting facilities at St Joseph’s school and a new site for Lynch Hill Academy School are one step closer following the decision.

Planning officers now need to address the planning obligations and on the basis of this being a straight forward process, Slough Borough Council say building work could start in ‘a couple of months’.

The application for a community sports stadium with 3G pitch and seating, ancillary accommodation, four court sports hall, multi-use games area and associated parking and landscaping at the Arbour Park site in Stoke Road, Slough, was agreed by the Planning Committee.

The agreement was subject to the application not being called in by the Secretary of State, the resolution of some outstanding planning matters and the agreement of planning obligations.

The decision of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) not to call in the application, puts the final decision for the stadium and sports facilities even nearer.

Councillor Rob Anderson, leader of the council, said: “We are very pleased with this decision as it has cleared all external obstacles to the stadium gaining the permission needed to complete this major project.

“We are closer than ever to having permission for a brand new community sports stadium and new, state of the art, facilities for one of our local schools.”