Responses to Letter: We Need A Clear Policy on Permissible Building Height

1. Christopher Dalby Reply

   January 24, 2018 at 11:06 pm

   Have those commenting ever been to Europe? How come they manage to build high buildings nationwide which are architecturally beautiful as well as providing much-needed space for flats and apartments, yet here in the UK, we seem to do all we can to fight against such buildings for no good reason whatsoever.

   With the lack of space for development, we have in places like Guildford it makes great sense to build upwards, with the alternative being building on more of the green belt. You can’t have it both ways I’m afraid, and what makes this all so much more ugly and unreasonable is the fact that a large number of the people fighting against such developments are often wealthy homeowners that don’t take into consideration the need for housing we have in the area and nationwide. It’s about time this was taken into consideration and housebuilding seen as a priority.

   Something that is very wrong with the station development is lack of affordable homes, the numbers should be over 50% and priority given to local workers who are first-time buyers. Sadly most will end up being used as investment which is a shame.
   • John Perkins Reply

     January 26, 2018 at 3:02 pm

     Yes, other people have been to Europe, though I suspect like me they regard many of the high-rise buildings as interesting rather than beautiful. All the more pleasant apartment buildings I saw were old. Warsaw is a good example: there are a few fine old buildings from before the war, many grey concrete stumps from after it and a few modern towers, which have no difficulty in appearing to be beautiful in a sea of grey concrete. The old town was lovingly restored, brick by brick, after the war and is beautiful, but does not exceed six stories, I think.

     Nor do they build the six- to ten-storey blocks you might see in Frankfurt (which are likeable enough) even though they are no more than sixty years old. The Solum development would only appear beautiful if it were set amongst the concrete blocks of Warsaw, Sofia or the outskirts of Moscow. Try building it in the centre of Madrid.

     People here do not fight against architecturally beautiful buildings – they do so against those that are ugly or deface their setting.

     The accusation that wealthy home-owners don’t care for the needs of others is trite and unjust. Besides which, many owners have little wealth beyond that locked in their home.

     It’s not “a shame” if most of the development ends up as an investment. Rather, it’s a natural consequence of allowing too much building of property that can only be afforded by investors. Despicable is a better word.
2. Peta Malthouse Reply

   January 25, 2018 at 10:44 am

   We also need a policy for building height style etc in the green belt and guidance for such as there is of our conservation areas. No policy = no hope of resisting inappropriate design or development on appeal.
3. Gordon Bridger Reply

   January 30, 2018 at 2:23 pm

   Very good point. The general policy that new build “should respect the scale and character of the area”, is sound but far too vague. Developers always seek to add to current buildings and as we have seen in our town centre which has become a real mess. We need a physical limit to be clearly established in terms of heights – as is the case in other better-planned towns.