SUR SUBMITS PLANNING APPLICATION TO TRANSFORM THE FORMER LIBRARY SITE

Community Projects  |  

Plans have been submitted to transform the Old Library site (85 High Street, Slough) into a new destination, comprising two Marriott International brand hotels, residential and retail facilities. The site will be developed and owned by Slough Borough Council and constructed by Slough Urban Renewal (SUR). New hoarding has now gone up and wraps the entire site. The hoarding, which is a vibrant, hot pink to reflect Moxy’s bold experiential qualities, will provide passers-by with a sneak preview of what is to come, while paying tribute to the wider regeneration which is taking place across the town.

If planning is approved, this new scheme, which would sit on a Slough Borough Council owned site, is set to include two new hotels, as well as 62 apartments and 5,000 sq. ft of restaurant and retail space, along with off-site parking, right in the heart of the town.

The two new Marriott International hotels, Moxy and Residence Inn, will occupy the corner building facing William Street and Wellington Street. In total the dual-branded property will provide 244 new guest bedrooms, helping to meet the demand from both leisure and business travellers. Moxy is a stylish hotel incorporating a contemporary bar, dining space and lounge, which will be open to both residents and locals. Residence Inn is an extended stay hotel with spacious suites including fully-equipped kitchens and is aimed at guests looking for a home-from-home experience for longer stays.

The planned residential building on the High Street will provide 62, one and two-bedroom apartments, along with restaurant and retail space, complementing the two hotels and adding new life to this end of the town centre.

Andy Howell, General Manager at Slough Urban Renewal (SUR), commented: “We believe that this mixed-use scheme will contribute significantly to the established plans for the regeneration of the Heart of Slough. The Moxy hotel will be a vibrant and trendy place suiting a range of people looking for modern rooms with great access to central London and local tourist attractions. The Residence Inn hotel, with its larger rooms is likely to appeal more to business users, looking for extended stays. We look forward to this development coming forward and meeting the needs of local business, as well as those visiting the town for leisure.”

Matthew Branton, partner at Franklin Ellis Architects, said: “The new hotels and residential development are a fantastic opportunity to regenerate a vacant site in the very heart of Slough. The Moxy brand brings a lively, youthful atmosphere to the High Street setting, while the Residence Inn brand at the top of the development provides long stay guests with excellent accommodation and fantastic rooftop views towards Windsor. Franklin Ellis is delighted to be a part of the team working with Slough Urban Renewal and Cycas Hospitality, who will be operating both hotels under a franchise agreement with Marriott International, on this exciting regeneration project.”

Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) previously held a consultation event at The Curve on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th October 2017, where the public were invited to view and comment on its plans, prior to the planning application being submitted. For more information and detailed plans, visit: www.85highstslough.com

If planning is secured, it is anticipated that works will commence on site in Autumn 2018, with completion in Autumn 2020.

Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) is a proud partnership between Slough Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments Limited. It aims to create iconic buildings, high quality new homes, leading commercial and leisure facilities, as well as new open spaces, better connectivity and enhanced local schools.