Guildford: Plans unveiled to build homes on dog-walking spot

A Surrey dog-walking spot is set to be sold off to make way for 40 homes and two traveller pitches.

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has received dozens of letters opposing the sale of the former landfill site, known as Send Hill Disused Sandpit.

The pit was allocated for housing in the council 's 2019 local plan but options were limited due to contamination, a council meeting heard.

A local councillor said the sale would help reduce spending cuts elsewhere.

The cost of decontaminating the land from fibrous asbestos had previously ruled out options for council housing, officers told an executive meeting at GBC.

However, a sale of land would allow the authority to seek up to 40 per cent of new homes to be made "affordable", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor George Potter told the executive meeting local planning laws meant the development would need to generate a 20 per cent increase in biodiversity - which should protect the site's wildlife, while the public's right of way behind the site would remain.

He added: "Money brought in would help reduce spending cuts elsewhere and would be better used for maintaining more suitable spaces."

According to council papers, not selling the land could expose the council to financial risk if asbestos escaped into neighbouring land and claims were brought against the authority.

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