Developer Announces Public Consultation Events for Gosden Hill Site

Published on: 5 Aug, 2023
Updated on: 7 Aug, 2023

Aerial view of the site. Apple maps

By Martin Giles

A local developer has announced that it will be holding “extensive public consultation events” later this year before submitting a planning application for Gosden Hill, a strategic site earmarked for development under Guildford’s Local Plan.

Of the large development sites included in the Local Plan in 2019, Gosden Hill, which lies to the east of Burpham, has probably attracted the least attention. Until 2019 the site was part of the green belt.

There had been no sign of a planning application but representatives from Martin Grant are believed to have attended the Judicial Review hearings at the High Court in London in late 2019.

See: Guildford Local Plan Judicial Review Judgement Expected to Take Weeks and Local Plan Judicial Reviews Dismissed, GBC to Continue Implementation

According to a statement sent out by the Martin Grant Gosden Hill Community Team: “The proposed development offers Guildford a wonderful opportunity to create a new, high quality, sustainable and walkable neighbourhood to live and work in.

Gosden Hill location plan, as shown on Martin Grant’s Gosden Hill website

“It will act as a key gateway to the city [sic] and provide much-needed quality homes for all, set alongside key day-to-day facilities such as sports facilities, a network of footpaths, local shops, schools and new employment opportunities.

“In the coming months, Martin Grant Homes is looking forward to meeting groups and representatives from the community at our Community Design Workshop and discussion meetings. We will be inviting organisations and individuals to participate in the Community Design Workshop in due course.

“We plan to host an extensive public consultation later this year where we will hold events in and around Guildford.”

Addressees are invited to sign up for updates via a new website: https://gosdenhill.co.uk/.

The Dragon has invited comments from the Burpham Community Association, GBC ward councillor and lead councillor for planning George Potter, and Guildford’s MP, Angela Richardson.

Responses to Developer Announces Public Consultation Events for Gosden Hill Site

Martin Elliott Reply

August 5, 2023 at 6:08 pm

At least this is a less cynical approach to consultation than the fiasco of SCC’s previous “consultations” on the London Road Active Travel schemes. They daren’t even call it cycle tracks!

In their transport study have they allowed for the additional traffic from the Gosden Hill development?

Have they considered the benefits and drawbacks of the scheme for all road users, and are they consulting them? They have escaped, in a way, by upsetting residents with an initial proposal to close one way for five months for construction. This they have sensibly dropped, but it was still an illustration of the lack of sensible road project planning.

Now there is again talk of full local consultation. While residents using the road are affected, they are also aware the traffic is linked to “out of town” shopping. But what level of traffic comes from these stakeholders? Isn’t a lot of traffic associated with the eastern approach to Guildford town from and to the A3? Who are the stakeholders SCC is consulting, concerning the project?
Keith Francis Reply

August 5, 2023 at 6:46 pm

This site has been on developers’ wanted lists for years but wasn’t it GBC that thwarted any such ideas due to its poor drainage?

I heard a few years ago from SCC that it was interested in Gosden Hill Farm as the site for a new comprehensive school east of the borough to relieve the pressure at the George Abbot School

That was in the days when SCC was particularly looking at school transport and it was before the talk of the proposed former Wisley airfield development. There could still be a new railway halt at Merrow and land the other side of the railway line abutting Clandon Park was in the sights for housing.

But as George Abbot is now an academy has SCC changed its idea for children from as far east as Effingham?

Without those who oppose development just raising objections, somewhere, somehow joined-up thinking is required.
H Trevor Jones Reply

August 6, 2023 at 3:25 pm

I don’t drive and I do live between the main railway station and the cathedral, so this development won’t affect me personally. But I just wish to re-iterate what I’ve often said before, that we need more housing, so any such development should be supported if at all practicable (I said the same regarding proposals close to where I live) and we should always be looking for reasons to accommodate (and ameliorate if necessary) any proposals rather than looking for reasons to object.

Naturally I would support this development to be built in a way that it can support a good bus service into Guildford and also be served by a new Merrow railway station if not actually a Gosden one on the Guildford – Effingham line.
Jim Allen Reply

August 6, 2023 at 4:00 pm

The only joined up thinking for the project is for infrastructure!
NThere is no electricity available until 2035, no sewage treatment capacity until at least 1q 2027, no real source of drinking water!
As for roads it was deemed necessary an always junction at Potters lane (part of the rejected appeal) because unless this was put in place ALL traffic heading towards the M25 would enter Burpham!
If anyone ways a summary paper of all the 1984 objections they can ask for a copy, most are still viable save green belt arguments!
Jules Cranwell Reply

August 7, 2023 at 8:32 am

The developer may promise the earth, but they have no power to provide medical facilities, schools, transport solutions, or other infrastructure.

Any “consultation” will be a sham, along the lines of the various “consultations” on the Local Plan. Residents’ opinions will be totally ignored, as usual.
David Smith Reply

August 7, 2023 at 8:22 pm

To be fair to Martin Grant, they were one of the original developers of Merrow Park, which at the time won several awards and has aged well. The development provided a primary school, retail, doctors surgery and a mixture of houses ranging from one bedroom flats to five bedroom houses.

From what I can see they have a proven track record and we should give them the benefit of the doubt until we see their plans.