Broadwater Park Funding Approved – Future Amenity Use To Be Confirmed

Published on: 6 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 6 Apr, 2025

Broadwater Park site (click on image to expand). Apple Maps

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

The “potential cornerstone of Godalming” has reached a landmark stage after £250,000 in development cash was approved.

The former Broadwater Park landfill area has been lined up to become a major community site – once it is made safe.

The funding will allow for further tests at the old course area and for the land to be “capped off” to seal in waste buried underground.

The entrance to the Broadwater Park Site from Meadrow. Google Street View

The money was signed off by Waverley Borough Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, April 1, with the project described by officers as a “complex scheme that will enable the development of a historic landfill site for safe and wider public use”.

The council said there will be no decision on its future use until the options have been designed, appraised and engaged with the community – but that options being looked at include bike trails and skate parks.

Cllr Liz Townsend

Cllr Liz Townsend (Lib Dem), portfolio holder for planning, said: “This is a crucial step towards fulfilling the commitment we made to the community in 2023 to transform this site into a vibrant accessible public space.

“It has the potential to become a cornerstone of Godalming’s recreational facilities.”

She added: “This is a first critical step to bring this space back into community use.

“It is a really exciting project that will breathe new life into Broadwater Park.”

The council has decided to carry out the project in stages, it said, due the  complex nature of the work, but holds ambitions to open the park by 2031.

Public interest in the site has been high, with a consultation on its future being one of the most strongly engaged with and nearly  2,000 residents taking part in a council survey –  more than it got on local government reorganisation and dog poo.

Cllr Paul Follows

Cllr Paul Follows, Lib Dem leader of Waverley Borough Council, said: “I’m so delighted that we’ve agreed on the funding to further develop this very necessary and exciting transformation of Broadwater Park into a new, high-quality public green space.

“We engaged with residents to hear their vision for the park, and their enthusiastic response brought forth many fantastic ideas.

“The local community is incredibly invested in the future of the site. Their support and patience will be invaluable going forward, as this will be a long and complex project, given the site’s former use as a landfill.”

See council report here.

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