The council has failed to strike a deal with landowners at a crucial site for the Heart of Slough plan.
But construction of a landmark public building could be delayed if site owners object to the purchase orders and trigger a public enquiry.
The Curve is the focal point of Development Securities £450m regeneration plan and will house a library, adult education facilities, a cafe and a cultural centre.
Building work on the new library and cultural centre was scheduled to start by early 2012 and the new centre will be ready to use from 2013, but this is starting to look ambitious.
John Rice, interim assistant director of property and regeneration at the council, said: “The council would have preferred to have reached an agreement through negotiation with all of the landowners, but sadly that’s not been possible.
“Significant resources are being invested in the Heart of Slough project and we are not prepared to jeopardise that investment in the town.”