Council to Consult Westborough and Park Barn Residents on Required Improvements

Published on: 30 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 30 Oct, 2026

An empty property in Westborough pictured in 2024.

By Martin Giles

Residents in Westborough and Park Barn, which has a major proportion of GBC’s social housing estate of over 5,000 properties, are being asked to help shape the future of their community by taking part in a new survey launched by Guildford Borough Council as part of its Better Homes Programme.

The council wants to work with local people to explore how homes and neighbourhoods in Westborough and Park Barn could be improved over the long term.

A GBC press release says: ‘The survey marks the start of a conversation with residents, businesses and community organisations to better understand what people value about the area, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for future improvements.

Chronic problems of subsidence made the national news recently. (Click on image to link.)

But Labour councillor for Westborough, Howard Smith, says that the survey “is part of a long process that has just begun and will take many months or more likely years before residents will appreciate the results”.

GBC intends that the Better Homes Programme explores opportunities to:

improve existing Council-owned homes
bring suitable empty homes and sites back into use
provide more Council homes for local people
improve streets, green spaces and play areas, making them more accessible and inclusive.

The council says no decisions have been made, and resident feedback will help shape any future proposals.

Councillor Julia McShane

Cllr Julia McShane, leader of the council and lead councillor for Housing, says: “This survey is an opportunity for people to tell us what they value most about Westborough and Park Barn, the challenges they face and what improvements they would like to see in the future.

“We know residents are the experts in their communities. Their knowledge and experiences will help us understand local priorities as we begin to explore how homes and neighbourhoods could be improved for current and future generations.

“No decisions have been made at this stage. This is the beginning of a conversation, and we encourage everyone to get involved and share their views.”

Cllr Howard Smith

But Cllr Smith is critical of the lack of progress to date. He told The Dragon: “While it is, of course, good news that attention has at last turned to the appalling housing conditions in my ward covering both the Westborough and Park Barn areas, clearly this project is part of a long process that has just begun and will take many months or more likely years before residents will appreciate the results.

“As a councillor for this ward, with a deluge of casework, there are still too many problems and issues with our current homes due to a decade or more of complacency and neglect under this and previous administrations.

“Every month brings further issues to light, be they damp, mould, cracks in walls and brickwork, fly tipping, overgrown gardens and substandard heating and lighting and, of course, subsidence which is endemic in much of the area and for years has been left unresolved.

“On the other side of the equation and adding to the problem is this council’s complete failure to supply any additional council properties evidenced by my question to Full Council last month which confirmed that none been delivered in the last six years. The result being many residents are now stuck with nowhere to move to and staff overwhelmed with the number of repairs.

“As I say, this announcement provides some crumbs of good news but not nearly enough to resolve many of the issues.”

Cllr Vanessa King

But Cllr Vanessa King, deputy leader of GBC and lead councillor for Economy and Place, is encouraging everyone to participate. She said: “We want to hear from everyone who lives, works or spends time in Westborough and Park Barn. The survey will help us build a picture of local priorities and understand what matters most to the community as we explore future options for the area.

“I’d encourage residents to complete the survey and come along to our pop-up event to meet the team and find out more about the programme.”

The council is working with a team of architects, landscape architects, urban designers, and engagement specialists on the first phase of the Westborough and Park Barn Better Homes Programme. Levitt Bernstein, WR-AP, ZCD Architects and Kanda Consulting, bring extensive experience of delivering award-winning, community-led regeneration projects.

As part of the programme, the project team is creating an Inclusive Community Panel of up to 15 local people. The panel will bring together residents of different ages, backgrounds and experiences, including young people.

Over the next 12 months, panel members will meet four times to share their local knowledge, explore ideas and help develop a shared vision for the future of Westborough and Park Barn. Their insights will play an important role in shaping the programme as it develops.

See more Westborough stories here.

Find out more

Residents can find out more about the Better Homes Programme, including how to apply to join the Inclusive Community Panel, and keep up to date with the latest news at www.guildford.gov.uk/westboroughandparkbarn, by emailing wpb-betterhomes@guildford.gov.uk or by calling 01483 505050.

Meet the team at a community pop-up event

As part of the engagement, local people can meet the project team, ask questions and share their views at a drop-in event:

Wednesday, November 11, 4pm to 8pm
The Hive, Park Barn Drive, Guildford, GU2 8EN

Residents can also complete the survey online at www.guildford.gov.uk/westboroughandparkbarn