New takeaway set for Slough on site of old Farnham Road launderette

A new restaurant and takeaway is set for Slough on the site of an unused old launderette on Farnham Road.

This detached shop and flat, based at number 412, forms part of the Parade, near the junction with Cumberland Avenue. It has been operating as and launderette and dry cleaners’ for over 50 years – since the 1960s – but is no longer viable for this use, the applicants claim.

The business closed in September 2022 due to impact of COVID-19 and the new owners/leaseholders took over the empty unit in November 2022.

It has been ‘vacant for some time’ and there has been ‘no interest’ in the premises as a launderette and dry cleaners.

As such, an application was put into Slough council’s planning team for a change-of-use application for the launderette to become a restaurant instead.

There are other similar businesses that offer laundry and dry cleaning services on Farnham Road.

The restaurant is planned to be about 80 per cent of the total business and 20 per cent of it will be involved in offering takeaway.

To quell any concerns about increases in noise, the applicants highlighted that restaurants have more staggered custom which would lend itself to less noise from people leaving compared to cafés or bars, and less noise than venues where customers might have to wait on the street.

The application site is within the defined shopping centre, with on-street parking.

The proposal would ‘be likely to draw additional customers to the centre and make visiting the centre a more enjoyable experience.’

Slough’s planning team evidently agreed, as they approved the application, writing:

“It is the view of the [council] that the proposed development does improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.”

To see all documents, enter reference P/01483/012 in Slough’s planning portal.