Speaking up for Guildford's past, present & future 

Blackwell Farm Development - Exhibition

The University who are developing Blackwell Farm have announced a day for the public to view the plans

8th March 2019 
Varsity Suite Sports Park 11:00am to 8:00pm.   

The Society had a tour of the site a couple of years back hosted by the university, we will be interested to see how plans have developed. Link to Blackwell Farm 

Plaza Site

This is the old CEGB site in the centre of the town.  The society was interested that it emerged the council tried to buy the site for housing last year (See Link Guildford Dragon), only to be outbid.  The Society is pleased that Guildford Council are looking to buy properties where they can benefit the community.  The council recently purchased the cinema site. 

Local Plan

We await the inspectors written summary of his views on housing numbers, after the re-opened enquiry. Our understanding (thanks to Julian Lyon for his summary figures) is that of the total housing provision in the current local plan  is 14,602 – more than 40% above the OBJECTIVE Assessment of Need !!!  11,620 are to be built on countryside and Green Belt, with major sites as Slyfield, Ash, Wisley, Blackwells Farm, Send, and Gosden Farm.  

The society is concerned that the figures don’t ‘add up’, we will obviously see development in the Town Centre;  Solum (starting in 2019), North Street is being cleared of old buildings.  The Policy S3 for the Town Centre in the Local Plan does little to support a well planned and vibrant town centre.  The Society is reviewing all the Local Plan material at present and on the housing numbers is co-operating with other residents groups.

Pedestrians Watch Out

Recent police figures (Link To SurreyLive news item) for 2017 show that Bridge Street in Guildford is the most dangerous road for pedestrians in Surrey.