Disputed land earmarked by council as key site for £450m town redevelopment

Slough Borough Council has placed a compulsory purchase order on land it requires to progress plans for a multi-million pound regeneration of the town.

The council lodged the CPO after failing to reach an agreement with the land owners.

The land has been earmarked by the council as the site for The Curve – a proposed library and cultural centre which forms a key part of Slough’s £450m regeneration development.

Construction of the library and cultural centre was scheduled to begin in early 2012, however, the project could be delayed if the land owners object to the CPO.

John Rice, the council’s interim assistant director of property and regeneration, said: “Significant resources are being invested in the Heart of Slough project and we are not prepared to jeopardise that investment in the town.

“We know how important the Heart of Slough regeneration project is to local people, which is why we are eager to move forward with the CPO and acquire the land needed to build The Curve.”