St Mary's Wharf ex Debenhams
180 Dwellings 2022 Approval
30,000 Sq.m Commercial
Type and Status
Planning Application Approved - Section 106 agreed
Building has been cleared, main development starting at end 2025.
Demolition has Started, See Video of site during early demolition, Video opens in YouTube in new window.
Video courtesy of ‘A View through the lens’ powered by Rob Follett Creative
Windfall Site
Scale
6-8 Storeys
Architect
Squires
Comment
A missed opportunity for Guildford in the Society’s view. We believe the site should have housed ,more social space and amenities on a what is one of the prime locations in the South East.
August 2026
Native Land, the developers, are now proposing a change to the approved scheme. The updated design would add one additional floor to the smaller of the two approved buildings, the one at the North End of the site by the Town Bridge, creating eight additional homes, including one additional affordable home.
It is claimed that the this change would help deliver the development in a single construction phase, reducing disruption in the town centre while retaining the high-quality design already approved. Both buildings would not exceed the highest point previously approved by GBC.
The Society has concerns about this proposal focused on:
The heights consented were discussed at length with the buildings been reduced by one storey, for both blocks, and it was agrteed to make the northern block shorter than the south block to provide variety of roof line.
Currently we have yet to see revised verified views.
We objected to the consented scheme on several grounds one of which was the impact on the historic buildings in the vicinity of the development.
It is not clear why the same heights for both blocks eases construction.
The developers have proposed changes to the equipment on the roof tops, this is an important change as many modern buildings are unattractive when viewed from above, a particularly important area for Guildford with its views across the town from the surrounding Downs.
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