Latest Stage of 1,550-Home Guildford Development Receives Approval

Proposals for 187 residences, forming a component of the revitalization efforts for land situated near an industrial estate in Guildford, have been granted approval. This recently sanctioned application represents phase three of the Weyside Urban Village masterplan, which ultimately envisions a total of 1,550 homes. Guildford Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously endorsed the application on Wednesday. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that construction for phase two commenced in late October. The forthcoming residences will encompass a variety of types, from one, two, and three-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses, with 40% designated as affordable housing. Members of the council noted the high density of this particular phase, at 90 dwellings per hectare, describing it as “quite dense.” However, council officers clarified that, in line with sustainable development principles, the council aims to optimize the use of the brownfield site. According to planning documentation, the proposal’s design intends to “reflect the industrial waterfront character of the area,” referencing the preserved Victorian Pump House, which is slated for future community utilization. Given that a portion of the site still contains sewage treatment works, building activities will commence solely after these facilities are moved to the northern section of Slyfield industrial estate. Previously, in April, the council’s request to transfer allotments to a green belt location situated north of the industrial estate, as an element of the broader redevelopment scheme, received approval.