The owners of No 1 Onslow Street M&G, who also own the Friary Centre, have applied (21/P/00539) to modify No 1 Onslow Street occupied until recently by Sanofi.
The key proposals are to create a three storey extension to the roof, roof terrace and externally alter the building elevations. This will include a new main entrance on Woodbridge Road.
Many of the principles of what is proposed with the upgrading of No 1 are positive especially in that it involves significant investment in a town centre commercial building. Although the demand for office space is unclear due to the pandemic, we can see a demand for a variety of offices in the future as working from home is only viable for some. The continued vibrancy of the Guildford High Tech Sector and Professional services will depend on access to good office space in an attractive location.
We thus concur with your overall objective to refurbish 1 Onslow Street to create a best-in-class office space in central Guildford, providing all the facilities that modern tenants expect.
It is noted that White Lion Walk has a plan submitted to refurbish the arcade (21/P/00573) including converting part of the floor space to provide multi-use offices on the High Street/North Street. Developers obviously consider that office accomataion in the Town Centre is not dead. The Society is keen that the Town Centre has balance of activities within it.
The proposal to move the entrance to the building to Woodbridge Rd is interesting. The entrance will be on the entrance to the current Bus Station. The North Street Development being proposed by St Edwards (which is a Joint Venture of M&G and Berkley Homes) will have a influence on how effective and attractive the relocated entrance will be. The application for No 1 mentions shops in the building on the Woodbridge Rd frontage.
As North Street Plans are shrouded in secrecy, it is difficult to work out what is going on. One interpretation is that the Bus Station is to remain in-situ, rather than move to Leaplae Rd, which would make the commercial opportunities afforded on the Woodbridge Road attractive.
The Society has been in communication with the developers and expressed concern over aspects of the design and particularly height and impact on the surrounding area. A particular concern is how No1 Onslow Street and the North Street Development will relate to each other – we could end up with a wall of 8-9 story buildings across the end of Woodbridge Road.
This development is an ideal opportunity for the council to use its new VU.City technology to visusalise the development and surrounding properties and show the impact of the changes from viewpoints around the town and at street level.
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