Latest News
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Walking Tour of Recent Conservation Projects 4th December View article
RIBA South Conservation Group & Guildford Society are pleased to announce availability of tickets to join a Walking Tour of some recent conservation projects in Guildford introduced by professionals who will explain how they resolved the challeng... View article
Are changes planned for Local Government in Surrey? View article
The last government made substantial changes to local Government encouraging the formation of larger units called unitary authroities. Regional Mayors in some areas were also inmplemented. The leader of Surrey County Council proposed that Surrey woul... View article
Budget October 2024 View article
The recent budget confirmed or added to the revisions being proposed by the the new government to Planning and support for Development Schemes.
Changes that are worth noting which might impact the local area include:
Planning and Infrastruct... View article
Green Paper – Industrial Strategy View article
The Green Paper is a consultation Paper seeking views with the aim to publishing a finalised Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.
The Governement s... View article
Gosden Hill - Proposals being consulted upon. View article
This site is one of the major Strategic Sites identified in the Local Plan (LPSS) 2019 as Policy A25. The site has been owned by developer Martin Grant for several years.
Martin Grant the developer is now, prior to submitting a planning appl... View article
Architecture Lecture 2024 - Videos of Thought Provoking Event View article
The 2024 lecture with the title of 'Housing to Benefit the Environment and Public' was delivered on the 17th October by Cany Ash and Robert Sakula the two co-founding partners of Ash Sakula Architects , one of the UK’s le... View article
November - Events That May Be Of Interest. View article
The Surrey Churches Preservation Trust (SCPT) on Saturday, 16th November 2024, 10:30am at St Mary’s Church, Holmbury St Mary, is holding a public talk on the life and work of George Edmund Street. The talk, led by Richard Peats, Principal Inspe... View article
North Downs Line - The Future? View article
The current fleet of trains (Class 165/166) on the North Downs Line are getting towards of their economic life with maybe 5-10 years life left. How they are replaced will need to be decided in the not too distant future as sourcing trains eithe... View article
Society Response to the NPPF Consulation View article
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is the key document that manages how local plans are prepared. The Guildford Society has now submitted its reply to the Ministry of Housing on the proposed changes to the document. Our reply c... View article
Mount Brown and Law College Redevelopment Revisions - UPDATED 1/10/2024 View article
The proposals to redevelop the adjoining sites of Mount Browne and the Law college have both had modifications submitted recently.
We have updated our descriptions of the plans on our interactive map of Key Sites for Development in Guildford. ... View article
Standard Design for Small – Medium Stations View article
Network Rail has been working since 2018 to create a station design that is modern, efficient, sustainable and most importantly meets passenger needs..
The proposed design needs to be capable of being developed at scale, for low cost, wi... View article
Planning Changing Yet Again View article
The new government has wasted no time in considering putting in place it's proposals for revising planning rules. See annoucement here. As part of this exercise it has produced a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for co... View article
Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB) View article
Surrey Hills National Landscape was previously known as the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).
Surrey Hills National Landscape have completed consultation on the proposals to extend the National Landscape Boundari... View article
Transport - Ambitions for the New Government? View article
The Urban Transport Croup has published a review of Rail and Urban Transport in response to a request from the Labour Party late in 2023 to look at options for Urban Transport and Rail. Arups have provided input to the report.
... View article
Electric Storage Units View article
A interesting planning application (24/P/01144) has been received by the council for the 'Construction and operation of a micro energy storage unit in Guildford'.
The applicants (AMP) are proposing the installation of a 200kW (8... View article
Strategic Approach Required at Station? - Updated July 2024 View article
The owners of No 1 Farnham Road (23/P/00764 ) have submitted a plan to add two stories to office space at No 1 Farnham Road. The construction works to add two storey’s are extensive and involve major demolition to portions of the Gro... 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.