Arson Incident in Shalford on Site Earmarked for Development

Published on: 14 Aug, 2012
Updated on: 20 Aug, 2012

Workmen securing the unoccupied building following the fire – Photo John Schluter

Arson is suspected following an early morning fire in a derelict house in Shalford. The house is on land that forms part of site for which a planning application was made this evening (14 Aug) to the GBC Planning Committee.

Police officers were called by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service shortly after 3.15am this morning (14 Aug) to a fire at a property in Dagden Road, Shalford. Firefighters searched the property which was found to be unoccupied and there were no reports of any injuries.

Major damage was caused to the tiles and roof – Photo John Schluter

The fire is believed to have started sometime between midnight and 1am and foul play is suspected. Officers from Guildford CID and fire investigators are carrying out further enquiries.

Police are carrying out house to house enquiries in the local area but would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the offence to report it on 101.

Detective Constable Alex Boxall said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation and are still working with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of this fire.

“We have spoken to a number of people living nearby but would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of Dagden Road, Shalford, overnight to get in touch. If you have any information that could aid the ongoing investigation then please either call Surrey Police on our non-emergency number 101, quoting reference GD/12/7452, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

This evening a planning application to build five new residential houses on the site of which the house forms part was remitted by the Guildford borough Council Planning committee pending a site visit by committee members.

Neighbours are objecting to the application, claiming that the proposed develop would be illegal under existing regulations. This type of infill development, sometimes referred to colloquially as ‘garden grabbing’ has been controversial in other parts of the borough. Some feel that Conservative party commitments that they would change policy at a national level to end this type of scheme have yet to be realised. Meanwhile the borough council has housing demand and targets to meet and risks having to pay expensive costs if appeals against their refusal to give planning consent are successful, as they have been on previous occasions..