Current and Proposed Developments in Guildford
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Guildford is to become part of West Surrey View article
The Government has confirmed plans for local government reorganisation in Surrey. It has announced that two new unitary councils will replace the existing twelve councils in April 2027. This is claimed to create a simpler and more efficie... View article
Guildford Society Architecture Lecture 2025 View article
The Guildford Society recently held its annual 2025 Architecture Lecture.
Anna Humel from The Society's Design and Heritage Group introduced the lecture.
'Guildford is facing the challenge of the expansion, like many other towns. ... View article
Gosden Hill Objection View article
The planning group of the Guildford Society Planning Group has examined the outline planning permission for the Gosden Hill site (25/P/01156) for the phased development of a residential-led mixed-use for the site in Merrow.
The Society h... View article
Heathrow Airport View article
The expansion of Heathrow Airport has advanced, following the Government's initiation of a review into plans for a third runway. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasised her department’s commitment to making a decision on the airport&... View article
Rail Stations – Support Development and Regeneration. View article
85% of the UK population live within 5km of one or more of the UK 2,500 stations. These offer the potential to drive area regeneration and increase housing supply. The Government supports place-based schemes for growth and new homes, recognising... View article
Stirling Prize 2025 Announced View article
A social housing complex for those aged 65 and over, Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, has won the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize. Located in Bermondsey, London, the development features community-focused spaces designed to comba... View article
A New Rail Clock View article
The first physical manifestation of the renationalised rail system has arrived in the form of a Great British Railways’ signature station clock.
The design, the first for more than 50 years, will appear in digital form on electronic informat... View article
Major Development Coming to the Borough View article
The Local Plan (LPSS2019) was adopted in 2019 and has now expired. The Council are working to create an updated local plan. This particularly affects the housing numbers the borough needs to supply where the number per annum has approximately d... View article
Guildford Design Awards 2025 View article
The Guildford Design Awards are open to projects completed in Guildford Borough during the previous two years. The awards are run jointly by the Guildford Society and Guildford Borough Council.
The entries received for ... View article
Response to the Consultation on Tall Buildings SPD View article
The Guildford Society welcomes the Tall Buildings SPD and has long advocated for a policy of managing building heights in Guildford Borough. To support this, we published the ‘Review of Height and Tall Building Policies’ in February... View article
Surrey Local Government Reorganisation View article
The Society has responded to the consultation on Surrey Local Government Reorganisation. The Response can be seen below reponding to the the questions asked as part of the consultation. Two similar sets of qustions for a 2 Unitary vs. 3 Un... View article
10 year NHS Plan – the challenge for Guildford? View article
The Guildford Society believes a healthy population is a primary indicator of an attractive place to live. Although it is dependent on good health care provision, best health status comes when there are high standards in the built environment, g... View article
Guildford needs to Rethink Housing Density? View article
Guildford’s new housing targets are ambitious: the Government’s Standard Method now calls for 1,000 new homes per year—double the previous figure. This is especially tough in a borough with large greenbelt zones, challenging landsca... View article
Pressure on the Greenbelt. View article
The Green Belt in UK planning serves as a method to manage urban growth and protect rural landscapes. The overarching goal is to maintain a clear distinction between urban and rural areas. This openness is both visual and spatial, not just the absenc... View article
Removal of Debenhams opens up Guildford Town View article
The removal of the Debenhams store has opened up a series of views that have not been seen in about six decades. The replacement of the Debenhams Store will start in a few weeks with the Native Land St Mary’s Development consisting of two... View article
Guildford Council's Update on the Five-Year Housing Land Supply View article
As of 1 April 2024, the Council’s most recent assessment reports a five-year land supply of 5.66 years, based on the Local Plan: Strategy and Sites (LPSS) adopted in April 2019, with an annual housing requirement of 562 dwellings.
Chang... View article
Selected National & Local Planning Policies
The Guildford Society
The Guildford Society has been an active voice, speaking up for the town and its surrounding countryside and villages for over a century.
While mindful of the past, our heritage and precious environment, we look firmly to the future
We recognise that development must, and will, take place. However, we do not believe this should be at the expense of Guildford’s historic character and beauty, nor of the unspoilt countryside that surrounds it.
We want our town to be vibrant, attractive, and liveable. We support development that brings a sense of place and enhances the best aspects of our town. If such aims can be embraced, we believe Guildford has the chance to lead the way in enabling sensitive and sustainable development.
Pressures for development are increasing. Planning rules are being eased. The Society’s commitment to standing up for Guildford is needed more than ever.
Other Organisations
The Society engages with a variety of other organisations who share our interests and we share their links for information. We are also include links to Guildford Borough Council and other Government bodies and Developers of key sites. Finally we include other links of interest that are related to the borough.