Asset Sale Allows Councillors to Hope Woking ‘Eyesore’ Will Be Removed

Published on: 18 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 18 Sep, 2026

It cost around £32.5 million for Woking council to buy and demolish the Triangle site. Julie Armstrong

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

The gateway into Woking town centre has been sold with the borough council hoping its buyer will regenerate the “eyesore” that has stood empty for far too long.

The Triangle site had been purchased as part of the £150 million Victoria Arch widening project in a bid to fix traffic congestion, increase housing, improve cycling and pedestrian access, in the heart of the town.

However the council’s financial collapse left the project dead in the water leaving visitors to Woking with a partially demolished, unfinished welcome to the town centre.

The council has since found a buyer for the A320 Guildford Road site as part of a series of sales confirmed this week as it continues its asset disposal strategy to pay down its multi-billion pound debt.

Cllr Dale Roberts

Introducing the sales at Wednesday’s (September 16) Executive Committee meeting was the portfolio holder for finance, Cllr Dale Roberts.

He said: “These disposals form part of the council’s agreed asset rationalisation strategy intended to realise capital receipts, reduce debt and improve the council’s long-term financial position.

“Each property was marketed with professional advice to test the market and to ensure compliance with the council’s statutory duty to obtain best consideration. The buyers and prices paid remain confidential.

Victoria Arch, Woking under which runs the A320. (image Google)

He added: “The Triangle site was largely a cleared gateway site that the council originally assembled for regeneration, additional town centre housing and the widening of Victoria Arch” and “the sale will bring the long-vacant site back into productive use.”

Cllr Ellen Nicholson (Liberal Democrat: Mount Hermon) said: “I was disappointed that the previous proposed sale fell through so I very much hope this sale goes through.

Cllr Ellen Nicholson

“Our residents have long talked about the eyesore that the triangle site currently is as a gateway into Woking so a proposed sale and something happening here would be a real bonus.”

Cllr Johnson (Liberal Democrat: Mount Hermon) added: “This can’t happen soon enough as far as I’m concerned. It is supposed to be a gateway into town, or a gateway out of town. In either case it’s a complete doss, it’s got buildings that are falling down.”

He cautioned that development of the site would still likely require compulsory purchases of two neighbouring parcels of land so it was not quite as simple as it seemed.

Cllr Ann-Marie Barker

Leader of the council, Cllr Anne-Marie Barker said: “This site has been laying empty, the demolition started much too early, it has been left in a complete mess for far too long. I’m just relieved that we have found a buyer for it.”

The council has said it has so far completed or exchanged £72 million of asset sales with a further £54 million under offer.

In addition to the Triangle site, the council agreed to sell Goldsworth Park Shopping Centre, 63-75 Commercial Way, 127-137 Princess Road and assets held by Monument Way West Holdings.