Future of fire-damaged Slough Bus Station site to be decided by council cabinet

The future of the former bus station site is set to be decided by the council’s cabinet committee later this week.

The Brunel Way site was opened in May 2011 as part of the £450m Heart of Slough regeneration programme and housed a 70-metre aluminium structure that included a shop and waiting area.

A fire in October 2022 caused severe structural damage, and the bus station site has remained derelict ever since.

The council has been involved in a protracted negotiation with the building’s insurers.

It reached a settlement in September but the payout it received was significantly lower when taking into account further settlement costs and legal fees.

Rebuilding the former bus station to its original state is estimated to cost more than £14 million, which is far greater than the insurance payout received.

Due to business rates, capital costs and round-the-clock security required, the current derelict site is costing the council more than £200,000 a year at present.

Now the cabinet committee, which deals exclusively with matters relating to council assets, is being asked to consider declaring the site as surplus to enable disposal.

This could pave the way for a new development which reflects and enhances the regeneration planned for the former Thames Valley University site, the shopping centres and the High Street.

The council aspires to provide a new bus interchange within the town centre area, which aligns with the redevelopment of the High Street and former TVU site.

It will address the faults of the former station in terms of passenger and bus operator experience.

Councillor Wal Chahal, deputy leader of the council and lead member for assets, said: “The former bus station, though visually striking, did not provide the best experience for passengers or operators of the buses.

“Now the insurance issues have been dealt with, we can look at the site afresh and fully explore the options for providing the best possible transport interchange.

“We are committed to providing an effective, safe and sustainable bus interchange for residents in this, the heart of the town, and I am looking forward to our discussions on how we can make our vision a reality.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Dexter Smith, added: "We are not only trying to keep our options open as we decide what is best for the town in the 21st century, but we are also giving Cabinet some additional options to get this right for Slough's future needs.”

The report and meeting details for Thursday, January 15, can be found on the council’s website.