Developers Soon To Release Homes For Sale in Ripley Development

Published on: 13 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 15 Feb, 2025

CGI of an example of the homes in the Allium Park development

By David Reading

The Allium Park housing development of more than 500 homes in Ripley is now well under way, with the builders declaring that the first homes for sale will be released on to the market early this year.

Detailed plans for the first phase of 220 homes were approved by Guildford Borough Council in June 2022, with work getting under way in March 2023. Outline planning permission is in place for a further 300 properties.

The developers, the Vistry Group, say the development “will make an important contribution to the supply of new housing in the Guildford borough.”

As part of the planning agreement for Allium Park, Vistry will be providing around £11 million in funding for local infrastructure and services. The company says: “This will include contributions towards public transport, education, healthcare and policing, as well as the provision of natural green space, the redevelopment of Ripley Village Hall and a new sports pavilion at Send Recreation Ground.”

Phase one is taking shape on the southern part of the wider site, off Burnt Common Lane. There will be six travelling show people plots and an 81 square metre community facility, says the company.

Cllr Pat Oven

Among the critics of the Allium Park development is Guildford borough councillor Patrick Oven, leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group.

He said: “The planned development was on the basis that it was an ‘extended neighbourhood’ – that is, reliant on existing infrastructure nearby. The problem, though, is that it is a mile and a half from Ripley and a little less from Send, which has very limited facilities.

“It is in fact part of the ‘extended neighbourhood’ of Burnt Common – which merely has a petrol station with a mini-mart attached. The reality is that residents will need to use their cars to travel to either of the villages or further afield. The only infrastructure being provided on site is a small 81 square metre ‘community facility’ – which was not initially included in the plans but added later.”

He continued: “The inclusion of travelling show people’s plots in the development has mystified local people as to why this location is considered appropriate for them. They are proposed to be sited on the extreme edge of the development, at its lowest point, adjoining Kiln Lane. The proposed site floods regularly and indeed has been under water twice in recent weeks. Access to it is proposed via Kiln Lane, which is a single track lane for most of its length and incapable of being widened. That too floods whenever the field next to it does. At present the lane merely provides access to a few homes.”

On the plus side, Cllr Oven added: “It is of course welcome that substantial provision by way of section 106 payments are proposed to be made towards local infrastructure that will be needed for these new homes and their residents.”

Describing the development in detail, the company said: “The 220 homes (in phase one) will comprise 37 properties for private sale under the Countryside Homes brand, featuring a mix of two to five-bedroom houses. There will also be 172 homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and private rent available through other housing providers, as well as 11 custom-build plots.

“Across the wider scheme, there will be 197 hedgehog highways and 111 electric vehicle charging points. A car club will be introduced for residents, with Vistry paying for each household to have free membership of the scheme for three years.”

Amber Bowley, regional sales director at Countryside Homes, said the majority of homes in the first phase would be available through a variety of rental and shared ownership schemes, providing opportunities for local people who are unable to purchase on the open market.

The company says the development has been designed to support sustainable ways of living, with the homes featuring solar panels and charging points for electric vehicles.

A statement said: “The company’s financial contribution towards green open space and measures such as the inclusion of hedgehog highways to allow the animals to roam freely between gardens will also bring ecological benefits.”