Flood Defences Could ‘Breathe New Life’ into Town – Proposals To Be Showcased

Published on: 20 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 20 Feb, 2025

The floods in Guildford on Christmas Day, 2013.

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

Flood defences that could “breathe new life” into Guildford and open up previously unusable town centre land for thousands of new homes are being showcased this weekend.

The Environment Agency (EA) is looking to expand safety measures in the town to save homes and businesses that have suffered from Guildford’s long history of flooding from the River Wey.

The EA, together with Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council, are ready to showcase how their long-term sustainable strategy to reduce flood-risk has developed.

They hope the plans generate feedback as they continue to carry out further detailed assessments, surveys and engagement before finalising an agreed scheme.

“The flood defences will be visually integrated into existing and regenerated areas of the river corridor, reducing flood-risk to the town centre”, the EA said in a statement, adding that it would “also enhance the riverside environment, and build better connections between Guildford town centre and the River Wey.”

Early drafts were shared in April 2024. Since then, it has been developed and identified areas that will be lowered to create more space for water and habitat creation.

Guildford Borough Council says the scheme is part of its ambition is to “breathe new life into the town by opening up the riverside, reducing congestion, improving alternative, sustainable and affordable transportation as well as making the centre a more attractive place to live, work and visit”.

Former councillor John Rigg has described the project as the “biggest opportunity” to transform housing in the county for a century as it would take huge swathes of land out of flood zones, creating more space in the town centre to build homes and taking pressure off smaller villages.

To showcase the scheme’s progress, the Environment Agency is hosting an information afternoon on Saturday, February 22, from noon to 5pm at the Electric Theatre, Guildford.

There will also be an online Teams presentation on Wednesday February 26, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/thames/guildford-flood-alleviation-scheme/

Jon Mansbridge, Guildford flood alleviation scheme project director at the Environment Agency, said: “For those that cannot attend, we will also be hosting an online presentation following the public exhibition. It will be another great opportunity to find out about our progress finding a sustainable flood-risk management scheme and talk face-to-face with our experts.”

Previous flood alleviation scheme drop-in exhibition at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

The EA is encouraging all those interested to have their say, describing feedback as “invaluable in shaping our long-term strategy to manage flood risk to Guildford”.

This stage is expected to last until 2026.