Planning permission in Slough feels simple until it isn't. Most homeowners assume their project is fine — right up until the council tells them otherwise. The borough has enough local quirks that what's allowed on one street may be refused on the next, and WhatCanIBuild exists precisely to cut through that uncertainty before you spend a penny.
The short version
- Slough has 5 conservation areas where permitted development rights are restricted
- Green Belt land covers parts of the borough — and your postcode alone won't tell you if you're affected
- Around 105 listed buildings are recorded, with restrictions that go beyond the building itself
- What was approved for your neighbour may not be approved for you
"Permitted development" isn't a free pass
Most homeowners have heard the term permitted development — the idea that certain works don't need a full planning application. What they don't realise is how quickly that right can disappear. If your property sits in one of Slough's conservation areas, a range of projects that would sail through elsewhere require full permission here. Extensions, roof alterations, outbuildings, even certain changes to your front garden — all potentially affected.
And it doesn't stop at conservation areas. Slough Borough Council can — and does — issue Article 4 directions, which strip permitted development rights from specific streets or properties. Most homeowners have no idea whether their address is affected. Most find out at the worst possible moment.
Green Belt land is more widespread than people expect
Slough's boundaries include Green Belt land, and this matters enormously for what you can build. Green Belt designation imposes some of the tightest restrictions in planning law — and unlike a conservation area, it's not always obvious from the street that you're in one. Parts of the borough that feel suburban and unremarkable are sitting on land with very strict rules about what can be added, extended, or changed.
If your property is in or near a Green Belt area, the calculations around extensions, outbuildings, and even driveways shift considerably. The best way to know whether this applies to your specific address — and what it actually means for your project — is to check your property directly with WhatCanIBuild.
Don't assume your neighbour's approval means you'll get one too
Two houses on the same street can have different planning histories, different constraint overlays, and different approval odds. What was granted next door tells you very little about your own application.
Listed buildings: the restrictions go further than you'd think
Slough has around 105 listed buildings on record. If yours is one of them, you already know — but what many owners don't realise is that listing affects far more than just the building's façade. Internal alterations, outbuildings, boundary walls, and even the land around a listed structure can all require listed building consent. The scope surprises people.
And if your property isn't listed but sits close to one, that proximity can still influence how the council views your application.
The part most homeowners miss entirely
Knowing you're in a conservation area or near a listed building is one thing. Understanding what that combination actually means for your specific project — and how the council has treated similar applications on your street — is something else entirely. WhatCanIBuild shows you what's been approved and refused nearby, and what your approval odds look like given your property's specific profile. That's the information that actually helps you decide whether to proceed, adjust your plans, or hold off.
With a householder application in Slough costing £548 and taking around 8 weeks, guessing wrong is an expensive mistake.
These rules vary by property
Conservation areas, Article 4 directions, and other constraints can change everything. Check what actually applies to your address.
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