The Civic Society for Guildford
Since 1896 we have acted as a focus for all who care about Guildford’s heritage and environment. Close attention is paid to Key Sites scheduled for Development/Redevelopment in the borough; and the current development of the Town Centre Master Plan.
Hot Topics
Our latest or most important news is below.
Scroll Down to see earlier posts sorted by Topic Areas; below the Hot Topics.
Presentation of Guildford Design Awards 2021 View article
The winners of the Guildford Design Awards, run jointly by Guildford Borough Council and The Guildford Society, will be publicly announced on the evening of the 1st December.
The Event is taking place at The Baptist Centre Millmead at 19:00hrs.
... View article
Guildford Society Notice of AGM & Social Event 8th December View article
The 86th Annual General Meeting of The Guildford Society
Wednesday 8th December 2021
18.45 for 19.00 start
The Guildhall, High Street, Guildford
We are glad that the AGM can be held in person this year after the disruptions of Covid in... View article
Environmental issues finally impacting Planning and Construction? View article
The Tulip was proposed as a large tower, it would have been the second highest building in London, which was going to be located near to the Gherkin in the City of London. The tower was proposed as a visitor attraction and viewpoint.
It is a... View article
Guildford St Mary's Wharf Planning Submitted View article
Native Land have submitted a planning application 21/P/02232 to Guildford Borough Council concerning their plans for St Mary’s Wharf (Debenhams Site) in the Town Centre. The application is undergoing a process of validation by G... View article
Guildford Architecture Lecture 2021 - Event Videos View article
The Society, in conjuction with the University of Surrey held its Annual Architecture Lecture on the 20th October 2021.
Providing quality multiple housing has a special importance for Guildford with several large new developments planned in the To... View article
UK Planning Laws subject to yet another rethink. View article
The replacement of Robert Jenrick by Michael Gove at a new department Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that replaced the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has caused a major rethink on vario... View article
Guildford Bus Changes? View article
There are two developments that are likely to impact the Guildford Bus System.
Short Term
Arriva have announced that they are withdrawing from serving the Guildford area and closing their bus garage on St Mary’s Rd. Surrey County Co... View article
Are Heat Pumps the Answer? View article
The government via new grants is hoping to encourage the public to move from gas boilers to heat pumps, as a greener heating alternative.
Heat pumps are not a new technology (Air Conditioning is a heat pump), with various models availabl... View article
Zero Carbon Home by Largest UK Housebuilder View article
Barratt Developments, the UK’s largest housebuilder, is building the first zero carbon house by a major housebuilder to substantially surpass the Future Homes Standard, delivering over 125% improvement. The ‘Z House’ will be b... View article
Going Green -- Heating our Buildings View article
The UK government has published a Heat and Buildings Strategy (See Document Below), outlining plans to replace fossil-fuelled heating like gas boilers with low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps.
The paper details the options and complex issue... View article
AQMA for the Town Centre View article
The Joint Committee of Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council have reviewed a report on Town Centre Pollution. The Committee agreed that to meet legislative requirements it is necessary to declare an ‘air quality management a... View article
Decision delayed again on M25 junction 10 upgrade View article
The Department of Transport has announced that the deadline for the decision on the go ahead for the M25/A3 Junction 10 upgrade has been extended from 12 January 2021 to 12 May 2021 and then to 12 November 2021 and now to 12 May 2022; A delay of... View article
Guildford Society Letter on St Marys View article
The Society has written to key members of the Council expressing our concerns at the proposed Debenhams/St Mary's Wharf Development. We are not against redeveloping the site but the current proposals don't do justice to the site or... View article
Statements of Community Involvement - Time for a Revision? View article
Civic Voice the national body to which many Civic Trusts belong, including the Guildford Society, have been reviewing the use of Statements of Community Involvement (SCIs).
As part of a research partnership between Civic Voice and the U... View article
Plaza Site Guildford - Environmental Issues View article
The Plaza Site (Between the Portsmouth Rd and Bury St) 21/P/01811, has now been submitted as a development of ‘Co-Living Accommodation. The Society will be reviewing and commenting to the planning application in detail shortly. ... View article
Skellefteå - Use of timber in modern buildings. View article
Skellefteå (pronounced similarly to “she left you”) is not a well known town.
Skellefteå in Sweden has wooden schools, bridges, even car parks; and now it has one of the world’s tallest timber buildings. The tow... View article
Topic Areas
Our Posts are categorised by Topic Areas, use the links below to see ALL posts by Topic. Society News on critical issues and events etc. is available here.
The Topic Areas also provide appropriate details of the Society Working Groups.
Help Us make Guildford Better
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.