Slough's iconic red Horlicks lettering to stay at the site

In December 2020, developer Berkeley announced it was removing the signage above the factory in Stoke Poges Lane to prevent them from being destroyed during the works.

Dave Taylor, design director at Berkley Homes, added they were removed due to “structural issues” but replaced the lettering with new signage in the same font and red colouring.

The Horlicks rooftop where the original red lettering has been replaced with new signage (Image: James Bagley)

Berkeley is currently building 576 homes at the site and will later move on to phase two to erect over 700 homes, taking the total housing number to nearly 1,300.

READ MORE: "Colossal" 701 homes plan at Slough's Horlicks Factory site approved

The removal of the lettering concerned many Slough residents, believing that part of the iconic factory’s heritage, which was built in 1908, will be lost.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Taylor reassured locals that the original lettering will be incorporated into the site once fully finished.

He said it is yet to be decided where to put the original lettering but could be placed on the eastern side of the site or use the individual letters as markers throughout the site.

Mr Taylor said: “We’re still playing with ideas. I think what will probably happen is they [the original lettering] will end up going within the communal entrances or spaces as a nod back to the history.”

READ MORE: Slough's iconic red Horlicks lettering comes down

The factory, owned by GlaxoSmithKline, closed in 2018 after 110 years of producing the malted milk drink. Berkeley Homes bought the site shortly after its closure.

Inside the factory where 161 flats are to be placed (Image: James Bagley)

Work is still ongoing to convert the former factory into 161 one and two-bedroom flats and three-bedroom duplex penthouses with ground floor internal landscaping, gym, gamers room, and other communal spaces for residents to use.

The apartments are due for completion by early 2023. There will also be a fountain, a café, a nursery, and more retail units for the wider Slough public to enjoy.

The original steel columns have been repainted and will be incorporated within the internal design (Image: James Bagley)

The internal steel columns within the factory, the clock tower, and the chimney are to be retained in order to keep the iconic factory’s heritage intact for residents to enjoy.