Council headquarters to close on Fridays

Slough Borough Council has taken the decision to close their main headquarters, Observatory House, on Fridays – netting a saving of £90,000 a year. 

Though the Windsor Road building will be closing, council services will be continuing as normal, with staff who would usually be based at Observatory House, working from alternative council buildings or from home, depending on which is more appropriate for their service. 

This decision is running alongside ongoing work to encourage greater additional presence by council staff across the town, not just in one headquarters, making the most cost effective use of the council’s buildings. 

Other council buildings – including libraries, The Britwell Hub, The Chalvey Hub and The Curve are not affected. 

Leader of the council, councillor Dexter Smith, said: “Like most businesses where hybrid working is a policy, on Fridays there are far fewer members of staff accessing our main headquarters building than on other days of the week. 

“There has been a great deal of work undertaken to ensure this change does not affect council services which residents rely on every day of the week, and we are reassured our services will continue as usual. 

"This opportunity to make a substantial financial saving, whilst maintaining our services is one we cannot pass up.

“I am clear, this is only one of our buildings closing on Fridays, not the council.”

The Friday closures of Observatory House will begin on Friday 6 February 2026.