Press Releases

Solum wins appeal: A sad day for our town

Guildford, Monday 22 January 2018: Guildford Vision Group (GVG) wants to see an integrated transport hub at the station, with much better facilities for all travellers. The Solum development, now approved following the company’s appeal against GBC planning refusal, makes that goal all the more difficult.

The Solum win sets a retrograde tone, not just for the important station site, but for all future town centre development.
Opportunistic developers will seize on the Solum precedent, with its unremarkable and unappealing architecture, to bring forward more dominating 10 storey and higher developments in the middle of the town.

Expensive defeat
Solum predictably succeeded at this expensive council defeat because Guildford Borough Council failed to put in place adequate planning policies and controls to properly manage schemes of this scale.
The extremely costly new Local Plan, recently submitted for examination by a planning Inspector, still contains little to suggest that situation will change.
The Plan is virtually silent on the redevelopment of the town centre.

Fear for our town
“This is a sad day for Guildford”, said John Rigg, chairman of GVG. “I fear for our town. We don’t even get a state of the art station out of it. We welcome new homes, but the main result here is a 300 metre, ten storey wall that will block and spoil important cross-town views. It will add to congestion, pollution and accidents on the failing gyratory, arguably one of the worst black spots in Surrey. It will add additional load to the already failing Farnham Road Bridge.
The town centre needs a proper plan. It’s needed one for years. We’ve seen nothing so far that addresses the key issues. We’re left with piecemeal development, which is not the right way forward.
The question remains what do we get for the millions GBC’s planning activities cost?”

GVG Masterplan
GVG launched its own masterplan for the town centre in February last year, winning much support from residents and others.
In the GVG plan the station becomes a proper transport hub and interchange, with much better access and facilities for all travellers.
Station land is developed on both East and West sides in a coordinated way.
This mirrors Network Rail’s Chairman Sir Peter Hendy’s declared aim to see station land used productively and sustainably in the wider interests of a town centre and stakeholders.
Sadly the Network Rail and Solum scheme takes operational land and uses it principally for commercial and residential development, perhaps reflecting Treasury pressure on Network Rail just to find cash.

Exciting options
The key to the GVG approach is the new East/West corridor across the railway and river. It relieves the ailing gyratory and enables a range of exciting options.
Not least it enables better, safer traffic-free corridors for pedestrians and cyclists across town but especially from the retail centre to the station.
The riverside can also be opened up for much more public enjoyment, along with allowing other new green public spaces as well as a modern, open covered market.

GVG also recognises that extra housing in the town centre is vital. In adopting a holistic rather than piecemeal approach in its masterplan, GVG claims its scheme will provide around 2,000 more homes in the centre to relieve the Green Belt than the submitted Local Plan. Crucially, the GVG plan does not involve heights greater than five storeys in places.
That is similar to the town centre plan, especially at the station, outlined in the Allies & Morrison study commissioned and approved by GBC but sadly, and crucially, not formally adopted as planning policy.

On Wednesday 1 February 2017, in front of nearly 400 residents in a packed hall, Guildford Vision Group (GVG) launched its plan to revitalise Guildford town centre.

Many others watched the live streaming from the Millmead Baptist Centre, carried by Get Surrey on its Facebook page, with nearly 9,000 hits already for the recording.

The detailed Plan, drawn up by David Leonard and his team at internationally-recognised Leonard Design Architects, picks up on the themes of Guildford Borough Council’s approved Masterplan.

GVG was instrumental in persuading the Council to commission the Masterplan which, interestingly, has not been adopted as planning policy.

Crossing
Central to GVG’s Plan is creating a new East/West crossing linking York Road with Guildford Park Road. The new link is the core of a new road layout that takes traffic away from the town centre allowing much more of the centre, including the riverside and right up to the station, to be better pedestrianised.

The GVG Plan delivers five new squares, two acres of open space, and 1500 metres of revitalised riverside around a redeveloped Town Wharf.

Bold
“The Plan is a bold one, it’s ambitious,” says John Rigg, GVG chairman. “The new bridge, for instance, delivers huge benefits. At a stroke, it tackles the considerable infrastructure deficit in the town centre.
“The questionnaire, completed by over half of the attendees, revealed 94% supported the new East/West crossing and 92% supported the new route for traffic that would leave the centre free for pedestrians.
“Over 75% liked all or most of the GVG Plan – that’s great support for the proposals that tackle the infrastructure deficit of decades and free up the town from through traffic.
“They’re a forerunner to creating new residential quarters and commercial space in a regenerated town centre.”

Significant
The GVG Plan delivers significant development.

It creates nearly 3,000 new homes plus commercial, leisure and retail opportunities – with a considerable uplift in business rates and council tax, as well as employment, through the scope for new businesses and activities.

The GVG Plan area is mostly away from the historic core and poses little threat to the town’s heritage.

It respects Guildford’s well-loved setting and views. Indeed GVG claims that its Plan brings much need investment to tired areas which have unexciting mixed use, along with unappealing design and architecture.

These areas are occupied mostly by ageing government buildings and surface car parks.

Network Rail also could frustrate the £2bn regeneration project if it is not open to cooperation with the town.

Opportunity
GVG sees its Plan as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to really make a difference to the centre of town and to banish cars away from the riverside and infamous gyratory.

See a spectacular ‘fly through’ and commentary on the Plan at http://bit.ly/2GVG_Video

GVG has presented its Plan to the Guildford Borough Executive, councillors and officers.

It is now waiting to see if the Borough Council will want to give serious consideration to its Plan, which incorporates all of the Council’s regeneration ideas.

Delivery
GVG hopes it will lead to the Plan’s adoption as planning policy and beyond to delivery.

GVG’s next goal is to advance the study of the viability, funding and deliverability of the phases of the project. It will also seek a consensus on the most suitable vehicle which might deliver coordinated town centre regeneration on the scale envisaged and illustrated by its Plan.

This could be by way of a development corporation, Town Council or an Area Action Plan under current planning legislation all of which are used by other councils across the U.K.

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Notes for Editors 1. Guildford Vision Group (GVG) was formed five years ago with the sole purpose of promoting Guildford’s urgent need for a long term vision in which the sustainable vitality of the town and its enterprise is ensured for the next 30 years and beyond. GVG is independent, and has no political affiliations or vested interests

2. Leonard Design Architects is an 80-strong practice with offices in London, Nottingham, Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne. Its work ranges from designing large scale master plans and major mixed use developments (including public transport interchanges) to smaller developments in sensitive and historic locations. Notable developments undertaken include Westfield London and Stratford City. It is currently working on major developments in London and the UK, plus in Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Korea, Malaysia and Australia.

Residents, employers and other members of the community are invited to attend the public unveiling of Guildford Vision Group’s (GVG) new town centre Plan on 1^st February at The Baptist Millmead Centre, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE from 7.00-8.30pm.

GVG has been working with David Leonard of Leonard Design Architects, a nationally-respected architectural and design practice, to develop in more detail the themes and vision of a masterplan for Guildford.

An initial masterplan was commissioned and approved by Guildford Borough Council early last year but has yet to be adopted as part of formal planning policy.

Share ideas
GVG will share its ideas for development with the public at the open meeting and David Leonard will describe the features and benefits of the GVG Plan.

The meeting will discuss how the Plan can shape the town centre for the better.

The new masterplan includes greater – and safer – space for pedestrians in the town centre and the redevelopment of the riverside. It offers leisure, retail and employment opportunities fit for today’s world in an environment that complements Guildford’s heritage.

New housing
It also delivers much-needed new housing in the centre of the town.

A new crossing over the railway that takes traffic around, rather than through, the town centre is integral to the new masterplan, making Guildford safer for pedestrians and less polluted.

A study by local consultancy Motion, endorses this concept and shows this to be the best solution for re-arranging central traffic routes.

The new crossing enables better access to town and station and greater reliability. It helps deliver an integrated transport network designed to encourage people to use their cars less.

A beautiful town centre
John Rigg, Chairman of the Guildford Vision Group, said: “The Guildford Vision Group wants to see a beautiful town centre and regenerated riverside created with people in mind. Right now we have no town square, few fully pedestrianised streets, and limited space for people to sit and enjoy the river. Roads are clogged with traffic and it is difficult for businesses to flourish.

“Our new Town Plan addresses all these aspects and more, and we encourage residents, businesses and the wider community to come along and hear more about our vision.

“There are now new development and project teams in place at the Council, and we look forward to active discussions with them about how the goals of the plan can be achieved successfully. Guildford has to get it right to survive.”

Campaign
The Guildford Vision Group was formed in 2012 to campaign for a holistic approach to the development of Guildford, one based on people and placemaking rather than piecemeal expansion. While Guildford Borough Council created a Masterplan for the town in 2015, it has yet to commit to delivering it. GVG continues to work to ensure the best elements of GBC’s Masterplan are put into action but its own Plan – to be unveiled at the public meeting – recommends key changes.

The Baptist Millmead Centre is located in Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE. For further information email GVG Campaign Manager, Yvonka Wilkinson on action@guildfordvisiongroup.com

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Issued by: Property House Marketing – 01483 561119 lisa@housegroup.co.uk

Notes for Editors

Guildford Vision Group (GVG) formed in 2012 as a response to Guildford Borough Council’s initial draft Town Centre Framework, to argue the urgent need of a long-term vision for the development of Guildford, one in which the sustainable vitality of the town and its enterprise is ensured. GVG is independent, and has no affiliations or vested interests. Further information is available at www.guildfordvisiongroup.com

PRESS RELEASE

Guildford Vision Group (GVG) says its proposal for a new East/West crossing from York Road to Guildford Park Road would offer possibly the best option for bus travellers in the centre of town by freeing up Onslow Street for comprehensive bus halt facilities.

GVG generally supports the bus halts policy proposals on the agenda for the Guildford Borough Council
(GBC) Executive meeting on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

However, GVG reiterates that the East/West crossing enables Onslow Street to provide replacement
interchanges in close proximity to the existing bus station. The bus station is due to close to allow the
huge North Street scheme to get underway.

John Rigg, Chairman of GVG, adds: “We support on-street bus halts, and all moves to provide a
comprehensive bus service, both to and across our town. With all the major developments looming,
such as Dunsfold, Gosden Hill Farm, Wisley and elsewhere, buses must provide a real and attractive
alternative to car usage.
“The new crossing proposed by GVG, as well as giving the centre of Guildford back to people, frees up
Onslow Street for bus halts right by the Friary, along with a more attractive, ‘active’ frontage.
Covered facilities would be possible.
“Furthermore the crossing enables the railway station, on both sides of the track, to provide a proper,
coordinated transport interchange. This is vital if our infrastructure is to catch up, let alone cope, with
the inevitable population growth in and around Guildford.”

The GBC bus options, if approved, will go out for public consultation during January.

Separately, GVG remains concerned to see that the Council is getting quality and value for money from
its transport consultants.

In the long-winded document supporting the agenda item there are some
puzzling options investigated for a new bus station. These include demolition of Debenhams for a
riverside garage and a bus station on Bright Hill!

GVG thus urges councillors to give a ‘reality check’ on value for money and the quality of reports.

PRESS RELEASE

Guildford Vision Bemused and Dismayed by Councillors’ Intemperate Reaction to its Request to Guildford Council to Take Legal Advice

Guildford, Monday 24 June 2013:

The furore that has burst around unfortunate remarks by the Leader of the Council followed a simple request from Guildford Vision Group (GVG) that Guildford Borough Council (GBC) take legal advice about the need for public consultation.

GVG was simply exercising its democratic right to asks questions of the Council. Ironically, the question was about a document on public consultation on major planning matters on which GBC has chosen not to publicly consult. On Thursday evening, 20 June, the Guildford Borough Council (GBC) Executive adopted two core statutory documents in relation to the new Local Plan process. One was the Local Development Scheme (LDS), the other the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The latter document – called ‘Community Involvement in Planning’ by GBC – sets out how the Council will consult and involve residents in creating the Local Plan and related major planning matters.  The SCI included a small but important number of changes to the previous version (adopted in July 2011 following public consultation). The changes have been driven by the Government’s new National Planning Policy Framework as well as its Localism agenda which spawned key statutory Regulations introduced in April 2012. All local councils, so far as GVG can establish, have complied with the 2012 Regulations by inviting public consultation on their new or revised SCIs. Ahead of the Executive meeting, GVG therefore asked that GBC seek its own legal advice on the public consultation point. GBC did confirm, a few hours before the Executive meeting, that it had been advised that ‘no express statutory duty to consult’ existed. Having asked the council to point to other examples of SCIs being adopted without consultation, none have been provided. “We just asked the question, concerned that GBC was not following the consultation route adopted by other councils,” said John Rigg, chairman of GVG. “We made no ‘threats’, so the reaction of certain councillors at the meeting is mystifying. In our letter we did point out the history of past poor advice to the Executive on the requirements of the 2012 Regulations. Indeed, the current Executive, whose views we share on the need for exciting growth and new development, came into being as a result of GVG’s past intervention. Good growth needs good governance and GVG will continue to question GBC ‘s actions whenever we see the door being opened to bad development.”

GVG remains concerned that any planning policy documents subsequently adopted by the Council that rely on the new SCI might not be robust, and thus open to challenge by developers. This could include any document intended to form part of the new Local Plan which the council is about to promote. Another concern of GVG is that the un-consulted LDS fails to include separate Local Development Plan documents (Area Action Plans) for areas earmarked for regeneration, including the Town Centre and Slyfield. Public comment and shaping of any scheme may therefore only be available at the much later planning stage, when the ability for the community to influence is much reduced without recourse to the Courts.GVG made informal approaches to the Council last Tuesday which received no reply, and so sent their own letter to the Council’s (interim) Head of Legal raising these concerns. The Council’s much feared ‘avaricious’ developers will certainly circle if the new Local Plan documents setting out the development, scope and planning regime for the Borough, omit key areas or are found to be not fit for purpose as a result of inadequate process.

-Ends- Notes for Editors
1. Re the SCI: these amendments are needed as the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework have significantly altered the planning regime in which the council have to operate. Regulations introduced by Parliament and applying from April 2012 specify how local plans as widely defined in the regulations are to be introduced
2. It is interesting to note that a late additional recommendation to the Executive by officers was accepted at the meeting on Thursday and gives approval to ‘make such further minor amendments..[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][to the SCI]..as [they] may deem necessary’ without committee approval
3. Public consultation is also a particular issue with the Local Plan documents in the LDS, where they are subject to independent examination and scrutiny by the Secretary of State. At worst Local Plan documents could be held invalid, and frustrate the Executive’s ambitions for the Borough; again, ironically, ambitions shared by GVG
4. Guildford Vision Group (GVG) was formed with the sole purpose of promoting Guildford’s urgent need for a long term vision in which the sustainable vitality of the town and its enterprise is ensured for the next 30 years and beyond. GVG is independent, and has no political affiliations or vested interests
5. Further information available at www.guildfordvisiongroup.com
6. Contact: Yvonka Wilkinson, Campaign Manager, Vision for Guildford Ltd on 07767 251040[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

130422 Press Release Guildford Vision Welcomes North Street Developer Choice Review and Calls for Evaluation Reassessment

Bellerby Foodstore Planning Permission faces Judicial Review from Two Directions

Guildford, Monday 5 November 2012: The quality of GBC planning advocacy is again being called into question. Scrutiny of the expert traffic advice for the Waitrose store application before GBC’s Planning Committee tomorrow night (Tuesday, 6^th November) shows that council officers have not revealed the full traffic congestion impact of the proposed development in their recommendation for approval.

GBC planning officers state that any congestion caused by the additional traffic is not likely to be ‘severe’ enough to make a case for refusal.

But in making that judgement, there’s one key assumption that really should be challenged. The assessment of traffic flows west out of the site towards the York Road/Woodbridge Road roundabout assumes that the traffic has an uninterrupted flow along Onslow Street into the gyratory system. read more

Press Release “Let’s tackle the traffic” is the main message from Guildford Vision’s latest street survey

GVG Press Release 13th September 2012