Letter: A Building Heights Policy is Possible and Quite Quickly

Published on: 19 Oct, 2023
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2023

From Alistair Smith

chair of the Guildford Society

Given sufficient political will, creating a building heights policy supplementary planning document (SPD), can be a relatively speedy process.

The City of Liverpool has just completed a zonal heights SPD in two years, including the required public consultation. A zonal policy is needed in Guildford as building high is not necessarily incorrect but can be, depending on the location.

Ideally, guidance on building height should align with a proper strategic plan for the town but “Shaping Guildford’s Future” appears to have become another failed planning exercise to join others gathering dust on a GBC shelf.