Feature: How Green is Guildford?

Published on: 22 Sep, 2025
Updated on: 22 Sep, 2025

Aerial view of Guildford

Many regard climate change, with its associated existential threat, as the biggest issue of our time. So how does Guildford fit into the picture?

By Esme Campbell

“Humanity stands … before a great problem of finding new raw materials and new sources of energy that shall never become exhausted. In the meantime we must not waste what we have, but must leave as much as possible for coming generations.”

Although a patent statement now, when Svante Arrhenius wrote it in 1925 the world was on the precipice of a global challenge it didn’t yet understand the scale of.

As early as 1896, the Swedish scientist found that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide change the global temperature. However, he also believed that increased CO2 would beneficially create “more equable and better climates, especially as regards the colder regions of the Earth.”

But of course, Arrhenius didn’t know how detrimental the warming of colder regions would be. After all, he predicted CO2 would heat the planet at a far slower rate than we are seeing now.

One hundred years later, the effects of global warming are palpable and incontestable. But it’s not all doom and gloom: Iceland generates nearly 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources. Greenland halted all new oil and gas exploration. Deforestation in the Amazon has approximately halved in the last three years.

So, honing it into the community, how green is Guildford?

Guildford faces “a twin challenge of climate change and biodiversity,” Mark Stamp, from local charity ZERO Carbon Guildford, tells me. “Our biodiversity is declining. We are losing insects and pollinators, which impacts plants further down the food chain. We need to make sure we are keeping habitats for our pollinators.”

As for climate change, “it will make more extreme weather that will impact infrastructure across Guildford,” he continues. “In the winter, the biggest impact is flooding – we get much heavier rainstorms which often overwhelm the town centre.”

There’s something in the water

ZERO Carbon Guildford water testing

These floods not only overwhelm the streets, but the sewage systems, too. Without updating infrastructure to deal with it, heavy rainfall forces wastewater into rivers.

In 2024, Thames Water sewage spilt into local waterways 94 times, which the water company attributed to the wettest weather in 250 years. ZERO Carbon Guildford routinely tests the Wey for levels of pollutants and E. coli, which Mark calls “horrific”.

Consulting with Guildford residents, local MP Zöe Franklin says people are “very concerned” about water pollution. “Water bosses need to be held to a higher standard,” she adds. “They are not delivering on the promises they’ve made – and they’ve all promised to address the sewage in the river, yet year on year it increases by significant amounts.”

Zöe Franklin MP

This time, Thames Water promises a “record amount” of investment into improving old infrastructure, the company tells me, and is currently building new sewage treatment works for Guildford as part of its relocation project.

Mark hopes for the wastewater to be treated by ultraviolet systems (UV), as “it is commonplace across Europe but not in this country.”

Although there is no confirmed plan for UV treatment technology at the new site, the facility promises better stormwater storage capacity to cater for more frequent flooding. Whilst this should reduce sewage release into the river, it is a point of contention. The Environment Agency stands firm that wet weather does not excuse the number of pollution incidents by water companies.

And Zöe says: “What we really need is a regulator with teeth, who will actually take water companies to task when they’ve failed to make the changes needed to protect our waterways.”

Mitigating health risks

Increasingly, climate change is posing health risks, with breathing difficulties being among the most common. “Air pollution has a really tangible health impact,” Zöe notes, adding that it’s one of the most serious environmental challenges facing Guildford.

Cllr George Potter

Cllr George Potter, former Lib Dem lead councillor at GBC for Climate Change, tells me that reducing emissions is key to cleaner air and something Guildford Borough Council has overwhelmingly prioritised in its climate change goals. And the council’s commitment to being net-zero by 2030 highlights that.

Transport pollution remains a major obstacle for the borough, however. “There’s more that can be done in terms of reducing traffic coming into the town centre,” Mark says. “The biggest cause of emissions in Surrey is transport.”

The council’s new Air Quality Strategy, published earlier this year, outlined a plan to reduce vehicle emissions – beyond its own fleet – but it is unclear how much it aims to cut pollution by.

Above all, Zöe emphasises the importance of improving public transport to combat this problem – an issue she has raised in Parliament. “People want to be able to shift how they get themselves around, but look at the alternative to the car and consider it expensive and impractical. We need to find a way to make our public transport more accessible and cost-effective.”

Image: David Rose.

While George Potter is confident the 2030 net-zero target will be met, he is concerned that the council falls short in other areas, such as its association with Barclays and the Surrey Pension Scheme, which help finance fossil fuels.

“The council has not even attempted to use its weight to apply pressure on these topics,” he explains. “I feel the council can and should be doing more, and being braver, in using its influence.”

Mark corroborates this when I ask for his best advice to residents, responding: “Look at your finances, who you bank with, invest with, where your pension is. That’s more helpful than giving up meat or plane flights.”

Next steps

The council has demonstrated a promising dedication to making Guildford a sustainable borough, but Mark stresses that it must remain ambitious with its policies.

Ultimately, what has been lacking is public engagement, which George thinks GBC needs to prioritise, now. More collaborative work should be done with communities and businesses, he says, to limit emissions beyond the council’s operations.

“It’s a problem with local government as a whole, it’s very much broadcasting rather than engaging and listening. It’s really what’s needed if this is going to be a journey for the whole borough and the whole community, rather than just the council on its own.”

Still, there is a tangible optimism about Guildford’s green future. “We’ve talked to many people who are so passionate about changing things for the better,” enthuses Zöe. “It’s vision for Guildford.”

George also leaves me with hope: “A lot of good progress has been made and a lot of hard work has been done. It’s going to start paying off quite visibly over the next couple of years.”