Flashback: Guildford’s MP Supports Vision Group’s Call for Reassessment of Station Scheme

Published on: 22 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 22 Apr, 2026

Flashback looks at Dragon NEWS stories of a decade ago.

Ten years ago this week, the Dragon reported on a meeting to discuss the future of the proposed development of Guildford Station…

This article was first published in The Guildford Dragon NEWS on April 24, 2016.

Artist's impression of the latest plan for a redeveloped railway station from Solum.

Artist’s impression of a redeveloped railway station from Solum.

By Martin Giles

Members of the Guildford Vision Group (GVG) are calling for a reassessment of Solum’s Guildford railway station scheme.

Anne Milton MP

In a meeting arranged by Guildford’s MP, Anne Milton, with a government minister and representatives from Network Rail and developers Solum, GVG representatives continued to argue for a comprehensive appraisal of its “bridge option”.

The government minister, Claire Perry, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, agreed with others present at the meeting, held at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, April 20, that the station area was ideal for redevelopment that would bring much-needed, new town centre housing.

GVG believes a new bridge would allow redirection of traffic away from the current gyratory. The group claims its bridge would better separate traffic from pedestrians in the town centre, creating a safer, less polluted environment and better foot and cycle connections with the heart of the town and riverside.

The minister recognised that any redevelopment should benefit train travellers through better facilities, including shops, whilst also releasing land for housing.

But in a press release following the meeting GVG said: “The current Solum scheme does not include lifts or escalators to improve platform access, especially for those with mobility difficulties.

“With the scheme designed to produce £25 million towards station improvements, there is a case for a ‘value for money’ reappraisal. The current Solum scheme, if approved in June, would also avoid any Community Infrastructure Levy compared to the Town Masterplan potential of £10 million-plus.”

Anne Milton, a regular railway commuter, said: “I want all transport options catered for so that all rail users get better facilities from the station redevelopment.

“I want to see Solum involving local people to discuss the options. It’s important that any scheme reflects the aims of the town Masterplan and local people’s expectations.

“It’s a big site and any redevelopment must be of the right design. The current plans do not address this. The meeting was a very positive step and I’m grateful that there was a general acceptance that another look at the scheme’s features and benefits is worthwhile.”

Bill Stokoe, Guildford Vision Group

Bill Stokoe, a director of GVG, said: “Any development has to chime with our community needs.

“The station should become an integrated transport hub and provide an altogether better travel experience for visitors, business people and residents. It should build on its ‘halfway house’ location between Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

“A more exciting approach to development, especially our bridge, would allow improved connection with east and west Guildford, better linking the station and town with the university, research park, Royal Surrey County Hospital and the cathedral.”

GVG said it wanted to emphasise its pro-growth approach, giving as evidence its successful campaign for the town centre Masterplan, recently approved by Guildford Borough Council.

The approved Masterplan includes more affordable housing at the station with a mixed redevelopment on a smaller, lower scale that nonetheless would deliver a significant surplus towards station and wider town infrastructure improvements.

Solum is a joint development venture between Kier Developments Ltd and Network Rail Properties, part of government-owned Network Rail. Their planning application is due to be considered at the GBC planning committee in June.

Ten storeys high and stretching 360 metres along the east side of the tracks on Network Rail land, the current scheme offers 438 apartments, of which 10 per cent are “affordable”.