Welcome to the Guildford Society
The Guildford Society has been an active voice, speaking up for the town and its surrounding countryside and villages, since 1896. As a Civic Society, we act as a focus for all who care about Guildford’s heritage and environment. While mindful of the past, 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 pay close attention to key sites likely to be developed in the borough.
Hot Topics
We have selected our latest or most important news items for you below.
Please see topic areas for other news items.
Guildford Council updates on measures to respond to Climate Change View article
GBC have issued a full report on measures, to the full Council on measures being taken to respond to Climate Change.
Highlights include:
Work to install solar PV panels at Farnham Road multi-storey car park and our Millmead Hous... View article
Guildford and Waverly Councils consider Co-operation View article
Guildford and Waverly Councils have both considered a KPMG report into local government reorganisation and collaboration, published earlier this month. This report identified that neighbouring authorities across Surrey should consider the expan... View article
Progress on Town Centre Masterplan View article
Amongst many items the GBC Budget Council Meeting on the 10th February 2021 discussed and approved; was the budget for the Guildford Economic Regeneration Programme (GERP), which includes the Town Centre Masterplan.
The Programme is to be run as a... View article
Car Parking in Guildford View article
The council have recently changed Car Parking Rates at various car parks across the town centre. The aim appears to have been to adjust charges to make some locations suitable for short term use up to 2-3 Hours approximatley, and allocate other... View article
The Society Comments on Weyside View article
As Weyside is such an important site in Guildford, we are publishing our response to the Hybrid Planning application.
The Society has reviewed, as best we can, the 240 documents related to the Weyside Planning application. This scheme has be... View article
Guildford Society 2020 Design Awards Winner Interviews View article
We have held a small 'virtual' celebration (21-1-2021) for the winners of our 2020 Design Awards. The virtual celebration was also the occasion that we released the short interviews with the Architect, Developer, or Project Manager... View article
Create a Park in the Town Centre View article
Stockton on Tees has suffered a declining Town Centre for many years. The Guardian has an interesting article on the ideas emerging to redevelop the Town Centre.
The Stockton proposals are a reminder that the Guildford Town Centre Master Plan... View article
Casino Site - Appeal Withdrawn View article
The Casino appeal hearing has been withdrawn on the second day of the hearing.
Both the Guildford Society, focussing on height issues, and Guildford Residents Association, focussing on flooding and detailed design issues, objected to th... View article
MHCLG Changes to NPPF and Green Buildings View article
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government had a very busy last weekend in January.
In response to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report, MHCLG is progressing
Changes to the National Plan... View article
How high in Guildford Town View article
2nd February 2021 is the start of the appeal hearing for the Casino Site, on Bridge Street/Onslow Street, in the centre of Guildford.
The Casino Site owners as part of their appeal against rejection of a scheme to develop a 10 storey bu... View article
Design Codes - the future for planning? View article
It can be argued that Design Codes trace their origins back to influential treatises such as Palladio’s 'I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura' and the planning and styles promulgated by the Wood’s in Bath.
The MHCLG hav... View article
GSA - A Design Influence in Guildford View article
Garner Stewart Architects (GSA) have been retained by Taylor Wimpey to design the Wisley Site. GSA is an award winning architecture, masterplanning and urban design practice. They have delivered projects for more than 4 decades, in all sectors, inclu... View article
The Death of the Office may be overstated? View article
Although Commercial activity is undergoing major changes due to the impact of technology and the Covid pandemic Guildford needs to manage change of use and maybe prepare for a future where Office Demand may increase!!
Mark Dixon CEO of real estate... View article
Topic Areas
Our Posts are categorised by Topic Areas; a post can appear in more than one topic area. Please use the links below to see posts by Topic. Society News on critical issues and events etc. is available here.
Society Working Groups, are aligned with a Topic Area(s) these look at the preservation and evolution of Guildford; details can be found in the Topic Area concerned.
Help us make Guildford better
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.