Plans to build 248 homes on car park site approved

Developers have been given the go-ahead to build 248 homes on a car park in Guildford.

Guildford Borough Council's planning committee approved the project for four blocks of flats and 15 townhouses on the Guildford Park Road site on Wednesday.

Council officers had recommended the committee grant permission for the £86m Guildford scheme, which will be developed by Wates Construction on local authority land.

A total of 65 homes will have below market rate rent and 34 would be available under a shared ownership scheme, according to council documents.

Mayor of Guildford Howard Smith said the project was a "very exciting development" with homes that "look like they're of good quality and they're in a sustainable location".

But he questioned what the evidence was for demand for shared ownership of homes.

Planning officer Clair Upton-Brown said assessments for the borough's local plan had demonstrated "a mix of housing need, which includes affordable rent and also shared ownership".

The Guildford Society, a civic organisation, criticised "the use of bland, panelised facades and materials that are out of keeping with Guildford's distinctive character".

It had called for the council to "seek significant improvements to the proposal".

Councillor Joss Bigmore told the committee "it's dull and it's uninspiring, at best", and a "missed opportunity", but there was "a lot to like about this development".

He said that without "some overarching design principles" for the town, individual sites would continue to be developed in a "piecemeal manner".

Network Rail had objected on the ground that the development "could increase the risk of flooding on the railway" and would restrict their access to the nearby line.

The committee voted unanimously to allow planning consent to be granted subject to conditions.

After the meeting, council leader Julia McShane said the the project would transform "this underused council-owned site into much‑needed new homes".

Wates Residential regional managing director Lee Bushell said: "Our ambition is to create a lasting, positive impact for the people of Guildford."

Construction is due to start by the end of August and could be finished by the end of 2028, according to the council.

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