CONTROVERSIAL plans have been published to expand Slough northward into South Bucks' green belt, setting the two councils on a collision course with the potential for 10,000 homes to be built.

Slough Borough Council (SBC) has unveiled their draft Northern Extension Plan, which proposes to extend Slough in a north-easterly direction into what it calls a 'garden suburb.' It would fill much of the space between Richings Park, Iver, and Langley, in addition to building northwards of Wexham Park Hospital. The development would include over 10,000 new homes as Slough struggles to find space for more homes on its existing land.

The report states: "The wide range of housing will include a mix of tenures and house types that are genuinely affordable." This would be in addition to at least 10 new nurseries, five primary schools and one secondary school.

Through this expansion, SBC hopes to meet its need for 927 new homes per year.

The tentative plans face two major hurdles – they extend into the territory of South Bucks District Council (SBDC), who are opposed to the development, and second, that they are largely on green belt land.

SBDC said in the report: "The proposal includes land identified for development that has not been identified for potential release from the green belt as part of the councils’ Preferred Green Belt Options.

"The Northern Extension of Slough proposal is therefore not supported by South Bucks District Council."

Leader of SBC, Sohail Munawar, and cabinet member for urban renewal, Cllr Zaffar Ajaib, said in the report: "A large number of objections were received from local residents and organisations, many of whom were opposed to the principle of development in land designated as green belt.

"Respondents were not however able to identify any other reasonable option or combination of options which would enable all of Slough’s housing and employment needs to be met sustainably within the borough.

"As a result the council has chosen to continue to consider options such as the Northern Expansion."

SBC made clear that the document is not a request for planning permission, or a request to build on green belt land, and exists only to inform discussions going forward.

The plans were produced under a 'duty to cooperate' rule - which requires cooperation between local planning authorities to meet Local Plan needs.

The next step will involve discussions with key stakeholders to get them on board with the concept, including South Bucks District Council, landowners, and Coln Valley Regional Park.

You can read the Northern Extension draft at: https://tinyurl.com/yccajfoj