Speaking up for Guildford's past, present & future 

Consultation on Main Amendments to Guildford Local Plan

Local Plan Process

GSoC attended the plan hearings.  We are concerned that, as yet ,we have seen no written summary from the planning inspector (Jonathan Bore) which will allow all to judge that the council have responded effectively to his requests.

GSoC is still reviewing the main amendments proposed by the council to the Local Plan.  GSoC has major concerns that we will be documenting for submission by the end date for the consultation 23^rd October related to:

New Town Centre Policy S3

Although better than nothing it looks in many aspects weak and doesn’t address Infrastructure, Spatial Development, and meaningful commitment to maintaining proper Scale and Height of buildings in Guildford.  We will be submitting a substantial proposed revision.

Housing Numbers

Although apparently following a brownfield policy first, GBC are still building on major areas of the Greenbelt and have not proposed any revisions to using brownfield land in the Town centre which can be bought forward at the end of this plan period and in subsequent periods.

Traffic

There are various proposals for linking the proposed Blackwell’s Farm site to the Hogs Back, and the Gosden Farm site to the A3 (including possibly solving traffic issues in Clandon).  However, the detail is vague and how the road system will cope is unclear.

Place Making

In addition to concerns about the town centre, the impact of the proposed Strategic Sites on local amenities and making proper communities seem lacking.

We will be posting more detailed comments on the above issues on the the wensite shortly

Julian Lyon (GSoC Chairman) has commented

‘The current planning issues at Walnut Tree Close, where the use of the river as a public amenity is under serious threat, highlights that the council appears to lack the policies to safeguard areas, heights, densities and uses – even along our river. 

Sadly, as proposed this will be no better when the local plan (9 years in the making) is adopted. 

Given the current submission draft has largely ignored what the society and so many others have been saying – including at the examination in public.  It is vital that we focus our attention on ensuring that the council acts, in the interests of democracy, for Guildford residents, who should at all times feel they have been properly consulted.”

For full details please click on the following links to GBC website

Proposed main modifications

Strategy and Sites – main modifications

Full Revised plan within Exec Meeting Papers 4-9-2018