Letter: Progress Has Slowed on Guildford’s Station Development for Reasons Not Made Public

Published on: 28 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 28 Dec, 2025

From Alistair Smith

chair The Guildford Society

Lottie Harding, in her comment on Andrew Halliday’s letter: One of the Ugliest Buildings Guildford Has Seen, asks why it is taking Solum so long to build out their development at Guildford Station.

Progress has slowed down for reasons that are have not been made public. Although they have started on Block D, things have advanced very little and they have slipped the car park opening date to Spring 2026 from Summer 2025.

The Society is also keeping an eye on the “St Mary’s Wharf” development, formerly Debenhams, where the site foundations have been completed. It is likely that a new contractor has been appointed to construct the buildings. It will be interesting to see how quickly building starts in the new year.

Developers are likely being cautious at present, as the economy is flatlining, building costs are rising, and skilled builders are in short supply. Development activity may slow down, or have delayed starts until the situation improves.

I was interested to see Emily Dalton’s piece in The Dragon on development in Guildford: Large, Controversial Developments Planned for Guildford – Will Infrastructure Cope? Which echos the sme ponts made by The Society early in December: https://www.guildfordsociety.org.uk/2025Developments.html.

The National Planning Policy Framework consultation, launched just before Christmas will also have a major impact on Guildford with many of its changes intended to support the governments drive for 1.5 million homes. A lot of analysis is needed but more information can be found at: https://www.guildfordsociety.org.uk/NPPF25-1.html. The society also has concerns that the 1.5 million figure is not well supported by facts, and that opportunities to redevelop housing stock/brownfield sites is being missed.

Meanwhile Network Rail have written a very surprising letter about the lack of a rail station at Gosden Hill under the Martin Grant Homes’ plans. See https://www.guildfordsociety.org.uk/NewStations.html appended at foot of post. Is this an opportunity to ask for a revised plan for Gosden Hill that provides for a properly well linked and sustainable development?