Letter: The Godalming High Street Project Is Too Costly

Published on: 21 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 21 Mar, 2025

From Jane Austin

Waverley borough councillor and leader of the Conservative opposition at WBC

In response to: Godalming Town Centre Housing Plan Moves a Step Closer

The Godalming High Street development project is too little, too late and too costly.

My council group eagerly await sight of the detailed costs for the residential element of this development, because the initial feasibility numbers were phenomenally high. This will be yet more millions on top of the ridiculous £4.5 million already spent.

The retail element of this unit remains vacant following WBC’s acquisition in 2022. I asked WBC for an update in January: the incoming retail tenant Loungers is due to take occupation in order to fit-out in January 2026 (and WBC is paying the tenant £150k contribution towards this) – nine months behind schedule.

This means Loungers will, it is likely, not be trading until mid 2026 – over four years after purchase.

This purchase remains an unwise acquisition and case in point for why Council’s should not invest in areas they have little market experience. How many of the houses for affordable or social schemes could Waverley have bought off-plan using the millions which was instead plunged into this?