Plenty of change of use, very few flats
Over the twelve months in the latest Slough Borough Council snapshot there were 164 commercial applications and 146 change-of-use applications, yet only 2 commercial-to-residential applications. The change-of-use filings are mostly about one business use replacing another: a shop moving to a different trade, part of a motor trade building being split for a new occupier, or a house being repurposed as supported accommodation.
For bridging, that points to owner-occupiers and investors repositioning commercial buildings rather than residential developers. Lenders treat these cases as commercial property deals first, and the questions they ask are about the new use, its demand and its planning status.
Industrial, motor trade and workshop premises
Slough has a large stock of industrial and logistics space, including the long-established Slough Trading Estate, with the M4, the Elizabeth line and Heathrow all close by. Buyers of smaller units and trade premises often need speed: a vendor wants certainty, or a unit comes up at auction. Our industrial and warehouse bridging page covers what lenders look for, including:
- the condition of the roof, cladding and yard;
- whether the unit suits more than one type of occupier;
- any contamination risk from past uses such as vehicle repair.
Where a building needs a new consent before it can be relet or sold, change of use bridging finance can carry it through the planning period.
Shops, parades and specialist uses
Retail units in local parades change hands regularly, and many have a flat above. Should you or a relative plan to live in that flat, the loan may fall under mortgage regulation, so we pass it to an adviser directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Where the flat is let to a tenant, the case usually stays unregulated and we can arrange it directly.
Proposals for supported or specialist accommodation need careful handling. Lenders want to know who the operator is, how the lease or management agreement works and whether the building has an alternative use if that arrangement ends.
Values, exits and getting terms in Slough
The Land Registry snapshot for Slough, to 30 June 2026, shows a median price of £390,000 across all property types, from 1,168 sales, with prices up 5% on the year. Commercial buildings are valued on their own evidence, but a firm local market helps when the exit is a sale.
Common exits here are refinancing onto a commercial mortgage once a tenant signs, or selling after the new use is in place. Our bridging cost calculator gives a quick view of fees and interest before you call us.
