Letter: Is the University Trying a Land Grab for Future Development?

Published on: 3 Jun, 2023
Updated on: 3 Jun, 2023

From John Oliver

In response to  Letter: University of Surrey Solar Farm Plan on Green Fields is “Unconvincing”

I am dismayed at the university’s timing of this, ahead of Natural England’s decision about the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) boundary extension.

It could be viewed as a deliberate ploy to ensure that the area does not gain the protections afforded to land that has AONB status (using a greenwashing proposal to make it more acceptable?).

A view across Blackwell Farm. One of the strategic development sites scheduled in the Local Plan.

Once any hope of AONB status was lost, it would then be in the gift of the university to abandon its plans and submit alternative, more-profitable development proposals.

This proposal should be resisted as such a precedent would have implications for the whole borough. Make your comments to the council using the link https://publicaccess.guildford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=_GUILD_DCAPR_201710

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