Slough plan to replace restaurant with flats explained

Mohammed Shahid has run Star Karahi for many years in Slough in the town centre.

He owns 37-39 Herschel Street, which made up of a two-storey building with his Indian Subcontinental cuisine restaurant on the ground floor, and two single storey units attached to it.

In days gone by, all three of the units were used as a restaurant and dining place for the Star Karahi Tandoori.

However, the business has reportedly seen a decline over the years with the units being divided to serve as space for a pizza takeaway, barbers, and later a tea room.

Rumi Pizza opened in 2019, the Star Touch barbers opened in 2020, but then became the Star Faluda & Chaat tea room in 2021.

The Star Karahi in Herschel Street, Slough. Credit: Google Maps

Mr Shahid previously said he would have around 100 customers on busy nights, which has since declined as a result of the pandemic.

Explaining the plan to replace the restaurant with flats and commercial space, he said: “The reason being is the businesses are very quiet. It’s never taken off since Covid.”

He added that the Star Faluda & Chaat tea room has vacated the centre unit.

Mr Shahid also blamed the closure of part of Herschel Street for a decline in his business.

The street was closed between its junctions with Hencroft Street North and Alpha Street North between January 2020 and 2021.

At the time, Mr Shahid said the closure had cut off his stream of customers coming from Langley.

It was imposed so that 14 flats could be built on a site that used to be used as car park of around 16 spaces.

That three-storey apartment building has since been completed.

Now, the plan for 37-39 Herschel Street would see the two-storey building and attached commercial units replaced with a single four-storey building containing nine one-bed flats and two commercial units on the ground floor.

The new building would be taller than the New Testament Church of God next door at 41 Herschel Street.

Elevation plans for the replacement building for the Star Karahi restaurant at 37-39 Herschel Street, Slough. Credit: White House Design

Star Karahi is also located opposite the rear of the closed BHS store, which fronts out onto Slough High Street.

Mr Shahid said he had received financial advice about the plan, with the intention of earning revenue from the flats.

You can view the plan by typing its reference P/10083/009 into Slough Borough Council’s planning portal.

Back in 2009, the third unit of 37-39 Herschel Street was occupied by Star Video, a film rental entertainment centre, but that was gone by 2012 and is now occupied by Rumi Pizza.