Latest News
See our Latest news, Scroll Down to see earlier posts sorted by Topic Areas.
New Development: Height must be managed. View article
Recent approved schemes in the centre of Guildford have shown that large developments are not well controlled by the Local Plan Strategic Sites (LPSS) 2019 and its accompanying Development Management Policies (DMP). There is a lack of effective... View article
Guildford Society Aims and Objectives View article
Although the aims and objectives of the Guildford Society have not changed, it is appropriate periodically to highlight areas the Society is concentrating on.
Reminder of our Aims and Objectives
We are the Guildford Civic Society... View article
Two Vibrancy Reports published for UK Towns View article
Two organisations have published recently ‘vitality indexes’ for towns in 2023. The Vitality indexes are different in approach one concentrating on retail whilst the other concentrates on a far wider range of metrics. but have ... View article
Walnut Tree Close – Another Major Scheme View article
Portland Capital the owners of the Riverside Business Centre on Walnut Tree Close are starting a consultation on their plans to redevelop the site to provide, in their words, “a new integrated neighbourhood, providing a mix of sustainable housi... View article
Clandon House - Latest Plans View article
At a meeting on 27th March 20124, members of the Guildford Society, and their guests, welcomed Kent Rawlinson, National Trust Project Director and Sophie Chessum, Project Curator at St Catherine’s Hall to hear the latest plans for the fut... View article
Large Buildings, New Regulations View article
Recent government announcements have made new demands on the internal planning of High Residential buildings by requiring extra staircases, in addition building these high buildings has become subject to a more rigorous three stage gateway system to ... View article
Flood Risk Management Scheme for Guildford Town Centre - See the Scheme. View article
Guildford Town Centre has a long history of flooding from the River Wey. Flooding risk will get worse with climate change. If measures are not taken flood events are likely to be more frequent and severe.
A flood defence scheme to protect Guildfor... View article
Small, Expensive, Outdated Housing View article
The Resolution Foundation has published its first Housing Outlook for 2024.
The report highlights that Britain’s housing offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy, combining high prices with old, cramped, poorly insulated buil... View article
We can now see the reality. View article
The Solum scheme at Guildford Station emphasises the inappropriateness of high buildings in Guildford Centre.
The first part of the Solum redevelopment has now been completed as the north block of dwellings on the station car park. This bloc... View article
A Visit to a Highly Praised Development View article
A group from the Guildford Society visited the Elephant Park - West Grove - South (previously known as Orchard Gardens) in the Elephant Castle, London recently. We were joined by several Guildford Councilors and Planning Officers.
We we... View article
Solar Energy and Electrical Storage View article
Renewable developer Clearway Energy Group has completed a 452-megawatt (MW) solar farm in West Texas, that can power over 190,000 homes annually. The $660 million facility requires around 5,000 acres (7 Sq/miles or 20 Sq/KM) of land a... View article
The Phoenix in Lewes has received planning permission View article
The Society has been following with interest The Phoenix development proposed for Lewes for over a year. We were lucky to have had a presentation from the developers Human Nature last November.
The Observer Guardian has piblished 17/3/24 a a... View article
Local Plan Review View article
The Council is required to review the Local Plan: strategy and sites (LPSS) within five years of adoption to decide if an update to the Plan is required. GBC Officers have considered changes since the adoption of the LPSS in 2019 and are recommending... View article
2164 Miles in Surrey View article
Surrey County Council is responsible for around 2164 miles (3482 km) of public rights of way, which exist both in the in the countryside and urban areas. SCC highlight they are important for recreation, for travelling to work or school and for health... View article
Shaping Guildford's Future - Update View article
The Society has supported the development of a Masterplan for the Town centre and has been frustrated by the lack of progress in bringing forward a plan for approval. This has been in part due to budgetary constraints.
At the full Council Me... View article
Society Objects to Law College Redevelopment View article
The proposal is to redevelop the site to provide via demolition/retention of existing buildings and erection of new buildings the provision of extra care housing (Use Class C2), this would also include reconfiguring associated ancillary accommodation... 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.