Conference To Look At Solutions For Guildford’s Housing Crisis

Published on: 13 Mar, 2018
Updated on: 13 Mar, 2018

Guildford Action, Guildford Private Renters Association and the Guildford Labour party have joined together on a collaborative conference to look at solutions for the housing crisis in the local area.

The event, which is open to the public, takes place on Thursday, March 22, from 1.30pm to 5.30pm at the Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead.

The three organisations say that Guildford is “suffering from a major housing crisis”. An this in turn “affects the homeless who find it increasingly difficult to find accommodation of any sort, those who rent privately and face worryingly regular rent rises, as well as those trying to get on to the spiraling housing ladder”.

The conference will examine each of these areas and attempt to find progressive solutions, which will work in Guildford and which policy makers and housing professionals can use to alleviate the crisis.

Shadow Housing Minister John Healey will be the headline speaker, and will be joined by other high profile names from statutory, charitable and political arenas including Duncan Bowie from the University of Westminster, Homes for Surrey, Network Community Land Trusts, Guildford Borough Council, Shelter, The Co-operative Party, Riverside, Surrey Community Action, Surrey Students’ Union, YMCA Guildford, Surrey Cut the Rent and Marks Out of Tenancy.

The chief executive of Guildford Action, Jo Tester, said: “This conference is an urgent response to the current housing crisis, which is impacting hundreds of people in our local community. This includes the very vulnerable, as well as key workers and young people who need a solution to erratic, rising rents.

“Ultimately though this impacts us all; our community relies on having a diverse group of people so we need to find ways to help them stay in Guildford. We would urge anyone with an interest in accessible housing to come and take part in finding a solution.”

The event is free, but as it is likely to be oversubscribed places need to be booked in advance via Eventbrite.co.uk and searching for Guildford’s Housing Crisis.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guildfords-housing-crisis-towards-progressive-solutions-tickets-41416619223

Responses to Conference To Look At Solutions For Guildford’s Housing Crisis

Dave Middleton Reply

March 13, 2018 at 3:14 pm

I know it’s been said many times before, but if the university was compelled to get it’s act together, act in a socially responsible manner and build the long-promised halls of residence on its land, for its students, then a good many family homes would be freed up for the permanent population of the town.
Valerie Thompson Reply

March 16, 2018 at 1:09 pm

I hope someone will talk about the failure of the university to build its own student accommodation. If they did build it hundreds of small homes could be released for local people.

Also, questions should be asked as to why GBC is refusing to consider building council flats, or encouraging developers to do the same, on the large open-air car-parks in Guildford. Parking for these flats and others built on brownfield sites should be underground.

Many of the new properties could be rented out. Not everyone will ever earn enough to buy their own homes and young people and lower-paid workers should adjust to this concept as they do on the Continent and in America.
Brian Creese, Guildford Labour Party Reply

March 19, 2018 at 12:46 pm

Do come along and express your view. The conference is open to all, since housing is important to everyone.
Colin McCarthy Reply

March 21, 2018 at 10:25 am

I do agree there is a housing crisis in Guildford. We have had it for many years.

I see the conference will look at solutions for Guildford’s housing crisis.

First of all, we must look at the past and see how this crisis has developed to what it is now and what we can learn.

We must look at those areas in Guildford where there is a possibility to build new housing.

There are many pros and cons, but we must be positive, realistic and committed in looking at solutions, otherwise it will get worse, and worse is not a solution.

When you look closely at a painting in a gallery you see what is directly in front of you. But if you take 10 steps back, you will see the whole painting.

Knowing that, why don’t we look at how other cities and towns in England solve their housing crisis? We can learn a great deal about doing this and can put into practice what we learn, as well
as our own ideas.

We have nothing to lose but everything to gain.