Slough plan for huge hotel and 'energy park' rejected

A company called Adveneco hoped to build a 416-bed hotel, a renewable energy park, offices, an education centre just south of the M4 at Slough.

Computer-generated images of the project showed a 10-storey hotel with solar panels and plants being wrapped around each floor.

The proposed northern elevation for the hotel building would have featured a ‘vertical forest’ reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The so called vertical forest that would have been created for the northern elevation of a project for a sustainable hotel and off the M4 near Slough. Credit: Adveneco

Adveneco even proposed ‘electric helicopters’ could be used as a mode of transport, providing a helicopter landing pad at the top of the proposed hotel.

This roof-type area was designed ‘to accommodate larger weddings suitable for up to 800 guests’.

The remainder of the site would have been made up of an ‘ultra cutting edge’ education centre, two office units and a large parking area to accommodate an electric shuttle bus fleet and both an electric vehicle and e-bike hire schemes.

A CGI of the levels of the proposed hotel as part of a project to transform a site near the M4 in Slough. Credit: Adveneco

They said the site would be powered by solar panels and wind turbines. While charging points would have been available for Teslas and electric cars.

However, hopes for the vision have been sunk as it has been rejected following an appeal.

The project was first rejected by Buckinghamshire Council, the planning authority for the site, in June 2022.

At the time, planning officer Elizabeth Aston stated that it should be rejected as the project would have damaged the Green Belt and be harmful to the character of the area, located close to the village of Dorney and Junction 7 of the M4.

A view of the brownfield site off Lake End Road, near Slough and the M4. Credit: Google Maps

She also stated that not enough information had been provided to assess the traffic and ecological implications of the project, as well as the flood risk.

Adveneco appealed against this refusal to the government’s planning inspectorate, which has taken nearly two years to determine. 

Appeal inspector Hayley Butcher concluded that the project would be an ‘inappropriate development in the Green Belt’ and have an ‘adverse impact’ on the openness of the countryside surrounding the M4.

She also mentioned that helicopter flight paths could cause issues due to the proximity of the site to Heathrow Airport.

The site plan for the project to build a huge hotel, education centre, energy park, car parking spaces and more on a site south of the M4 near Slough. Credit: Wardman Brown

Inspector Butcher gave her verdict on January 8 of this year.

Now, the appeal has officially been dismissed by Felicity Buchan, the minister for housing and homelessness on behalf of Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities.

The refusal letter states: “The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector’s conclusions, and agrees with her recommendation. He has decided to dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission.”

The dismissal means the project has been rejected, with the letter announcing the news being published on Monday, April 8.

You can view the refused application by typing reference PL/20/2020/OA into the Chiltern and South Bucks area planning portal.