Local Plan Workshop

Local Plan Development

The Council agreed in 2024 to update/renew the Local Plan for the Borough.   The Guildford Society participated in two of the recent workshops involving Councilors and Local Groups which had the aim of:

• sharing information about Government's new plan-making system and timescales.  See more at this Link.
• seeking views on the challenges and opportunities the new Plan should address
• seeking help in beginning to shape a distinctive local vision for the Plan

These Workshops were facilitated by an external consultancy and the results have now been documented and published, see Documents at foot of post. 

Participants at the workshops concluded that valued aspects of Guildford include:

• The countryside setting and access to green spaces were identified as the primary valued attributes. Participants consistently emphasised the significance of the Green Belt, which protects surrounding hills and river corridors. The seamless integration between town and countryside, facilitated by convenient movement, was highly regarded.
• Guildford’s historic character is central to its local identity, supported by the High Street, heritage assets, and distinctive town and village environments. These features are considered fundamental to the borough’s sense of place.
• Workshop participants also recognised the strong community spirit, pronounced village identity, and small-town atmosphere as key values. Good rail connectivity and access to London were acknowledged as further positive aspects. Core services, including schools, the university, and cultural amenities, were highlighted as important assets.

The Workshops were also concerned on many issued and identified priorities for change:

• Traffic congestion emerged as the predominant concern, compounded by insufficient public transport and cycling infrastructure. There was broad support for measures to reduce car dependency. Housing was another significant issue, with strong backing for more genuinely affordable homes, accompanied by worries regarding overdevelopment and poor design quality.
• Participants expressed concern about the perceived decline of the town centre. Proposed growth within the Guildford area must be supported by robust infrastructure, particularly in health, education, and transport, delivered in alignment with demand, timelines, and cost considerations.

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