In the 21st century Slough has seen major redevelopment in the town centre. Old buildings are being replaced with new offices and shopping complexes. Tesco have replaced an existing superstore with a larger Tesco Extra. The Heart of Slough Project is an ambitious plan for the redevelopment of Slough's town centre. The aim is to create a leading European and national focus and cultural quarter for the creative media, information and communications industries. It will create a mixed-use complex, multi-functional buildings, visual landmarks and a public space in the Thames Valley. Recommendations for the £400 million project have been approved,and planning approval was given by Slough Borough Council’s planning committee on 9 July 2009.Work is scheduled to begin in 2009 for completion in 2018.In December 2009, 2 key components of the project were signed, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) signed its agreement to provide £11m of funding for the infrastructure of the scheme and Thames Valley University (TVU) courses which are due to remain in the town have found a new home at The Centre in Farnham Road, Slough
In parallel to the town centre redevelopment plan, SEGRO (owner's of the Slough Trading Estate) are planning on spending £600 million over the next 20 years on the trading estate. Creating environmentally sustainable buildings, open green spaces, two hotels, a conference centre, cafés, restaurants, and better transport facilities to improve links to Slough town centre and the surrounding residential areas. It is estimated that the plan will create more than 4,100 new jobs and contribute around £100m a year to Slough’s economy.If both plans go ahead in their current forms, it will mean nearly £1 billion will be spent on redeveloping Slough over the next 20 years.
