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.
St Mary’s - Historic England Comment on Plans View article
In a rare development Historic England has formally objected to the Debenhams redevelopment proposals. Historic England is the government body that looks after England's historic environment, including listing buildings, and reviews planning appl... View article
Guildford Local Plan - Development Management Policies View article
The Council has adopted the 'Local Plan: strategy and sites 2015-2034'. This sets out the vision, aims and strategy for the borough up to 2034. The document contains key facts about our borough, the spatial vision, strategic objecti... View article
Guildford Town Centre Plans- Consultation 1 View article
The first Webinar on Shaping Guildford's Future took place on Tuesday 14 December.
Themes at the Meeting
There was a wide variety of responses to the very high level presentation of the aims and objectives. Comments focused... View article
Guildford - Development on the Cathedral Stag Hill View article
The Planning application for 124 Dwellings on the Stag Hill site has just been lodged with the council. The applicants are the Cathedral in partnership with Vivid, a Housing Association.
This site has been the subject of considerable de... View article
Surrey’s 2050 Place Ambition View article
The Surrey Future partnership, consisting of Surrey local authorities and their strategic partners have recently refreshed a document - Surrey’s 2050 Place Ambition (See Below). This document is now being consulted upon. The refresh consi... View article
St Mary’s Wharf Development - Objection Submitted View article
The Society Today submitted an objection the currently proposed scheme for St Mary’s Wharf.
The Society believes that the site is one of the most important sites to be brought forward for development in Guildford over the last few decades.&n... View article
CPRE - Brownfield sites could provide 1.3M Houses View article
CPRE the Countryside Charity recently published its latest report in the availability of Brownfield land that might accommodate development. The report claims that there is enough previously developed land to accommodate over 1.3 million new ho... View article
Guildford Design Awards Winners 2021 View article
On the 1st December 2021 the Mayor of Guildford Marsha Moseley presented the Guildford Design Awards 2021. This award is run jointly by the Guildford Borough Council and The Guildford Society. The award celebrates good building Design and Publi... 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
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.