Flashback: £10m Redevelopment Of Tunsgate Square Gets Go-ahead

Published on: 17 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 17 Feb, 2025

Flashback looks at Dragon NEWS stories of a decade ago.

Ten years ago this week permission was granted for the redevelopment of Tunsgate Square

First published on The Guildford Dragon NEWS on March 17, 2015.

Guildford’s Tunsgate Square will be redeveloped with new shops and restaurants within, what its developers say, will be “a high-quality, well-designed, contemporary building, which will complement the existing high-end shopping surrounding the centre”.

An artist’s impression of how the High Street entrance to Tunsgate Square will look.

The £10 million revamp – that will include an increase of 10,000 sq ft of floor space brining the total area up to 70,000 sq ft and with a glass roof – has been passed by Guildford Borough Council.

The Tunsgate Man – remember him?

Developer Queensberry Real Estates says its aim is to “target premium boutique retail and restaurant brands to create a more inspiring shopping and leisure destination”.

It says the High Street entrance will be “transformed with a high level café/restaurant on the first floor overlooking the High Street, and will significantly improve the design, access and future footfall”.

The plans include the creation of two levels to the rear of the scheme, improvements to the elevation of the building on Tunsgate, and an enhanced environment on to Castle Street, creating a visual link to the Castle Gardens.

Its residential units will be retained and the public car park will remain at basement level, with better access to the shops and restaurants.

Work will start this summer and should be completed in 12 months.

The council’s planning committee passed the plans with the majority in favour after it had received 20 letters of objection.