£86 Million Development Plan Submitted for Guildford Park Road

Published on: 21 Nov, 2025
Updated on: 20 Nov, 2025

Artist’s illustration of the apartment blocks on Guildford Park Road. (GBC)

By David Reading

Major plans for a new housing development in Guildford Park Road have been submitted to Guildford Borough Council.

Wates Construction has put in proposals for an £86 million project to be delivered in partnership with the council.

The council says the proposed development will “transform the under-utilised Guildford Park Road car park into new homes”.

A statement from GBC says: “With the potential to deliver 248 new high-quality homes, the design includes 40 per cent affordable council housing and appealing public spaces that celebrate the town’s unique character by creating a place fit for the future.

“The proposals have been carefully crafted by the design team to include family homes in a mix of dwelling types. Four apartment buildings (four to six storeys) as well as fifteen townhouses (two to three storeys) are set either side of a central ‘Living Street’ which will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists in a landscaped social space.”

Before submitting the plans, the team held consultations events across Guildford, generating 1,250 responses.

The council says: “Feedback has been positive with the majority of respondents supporting the proposals, and the project team has reviewed this feedback before submitting the planning application.”

The statement adds: “Alongside the vital homes the project will have a lasting legacy for the community. Central to the plans is an extensive £11 million social value programme which will be delivered by Wates that will support a number of initiatives in the local community, including creating 40 new local jobs and provide training and upskilling opportunities.

“It will support all age groups through community initiatives such the Green Schools Project, graffiti clean-up project, 200 hours volunteering in the community and 39 work experience placements. More details are available on the project website.”

Cllr Julia McShane

Cllr Julia McShane, lead councillor for housing,  said: “I’m pleased that the council has been able to act on our long-held ambition to invest in under-utilised, council-owned land and redevelop this site. It’s good to see plans for this strategic site progressing to the planning stage.

“The proposals include much-needed new homes for Guildford, with 40 per cent of these owned and managed by the council, for those who need them most. The project will truly transform the area for local communities.”

Lee Bushell, Regional Managing Director, Wates Residential, said: “Wates are proud to have developed a Social Value Action Plan that makes these proposals so valuable for Guildford. With the plan worth up to £11 million, this development won’t just deliver housing, it will contribute to creating more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive borough, in line with the key priorities of Guildford Borough Council and create a lasting impact for the community.

“We are delighted to have partnered with Guildford Borough Council on this project and look forward to delivering these much-needed new homes to a town we as a Group have such a long-established history with.”

A planning application has now been submitted. These plans will follow the formal application process and reviewed at a future Planning Committee. There are hopes that construction will begin by summer 2026 with completion forecast towards the end of 2028.

To learn more about the submitted plans, visit www.guildfordparkroad.com

Share This Post