Letter: Why Does The University Need So Much Green Belt?

Published on: 15 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 15 Aug, 2018

From Lisa Wright

In recent Dragon comments, I note that the Debenhams site is said to be 50,000 sq metres of retail space; the building stands on roughly one acre of land.

So, why does the University of Surrey and Guildford Borough Council need 11 hectares, approximately 27 times as big as Debenhams, of prime agricultural, green belt land for a 30,000 sq metre extension to the Surrey Research Park?

This is preposterous, if one building such as Debenhams, could accommodate all the office space we are ever likely to need in the near future why is this council and the government so keen to destroy large swathes of land?

If we diverted the huge infrastructure investment needed to connect Blackwell Farm to the current travel network and improvements in town centre transport surely we could find the university an acre of land to expand their office facilities.

Perhaps “The Village” site would be appropriate? It could regenerate that area of town, bring much needed retail spending to the area and improve the infrastructure.

Would someone like to say why this hasn’t been considered?

Responses to Letter: Why Does The University Need So Much Green Belt?

Valerie Thompson Reply

August 15, 2018 at 6:06 pm

They don’t, look at the picture, single-story buildings. Why not three or four stories? Room enough for a few offices.

The university was given green belt land for its essential buildings, lecture halls, refectories, and accommodation etc, but they have failed to build sufficient of the latter. In fact, they have covered vast swathes of land with open-air car-parks instead of hiding the cars underground and building flats or offices above.

They must not be allowed to waste further green belt land.
George Potter Reply

August 16, 2018 at 5:31 pm

Companies currently based on the research park include the likes of SSTL who manufacture satellites in air pressure controlled clean rooms and test them in further specialist rooms.

I’d hazard a guess that many other companies based there are the same. And multiple floors of manufacturing and scientific laboratories are presumably a lot more complicated to build than just stacks of floors of office cubicles.
- A Atkinson Reply
  
  August 17, 2018 at 9:08 am
  
  I think Mr Potter has a good point. Perhaps they should be located in areas of large expanses of flat brownfield land if they are industry which relies on low-density building. Density of housing is a planning consideration for housing, perhaps a similar logic should be used for these science parks?
  
  Another point is that these companies deal with complicated stuff, they are experts at complicated stuff. But “complicated” is not a reason to take the easy route. Complicated is the compromise for wanting to be located in Guildford and complicated should not be a reason to hand over vast areas of land on green belt and around the ANOB.
  
  Landing on the moon was complicated, but it was done as the will, leadership and direction was there. Where there is a will there is a way; necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps the scientists need to speak to their engineering friends on a better solution for their “park”.
Jules Cranwell Reply

August 16, 2018 at 10:45 pm

Is it because they have become property and land speculators?
Martin Elliott Reply

August 21, 2018 at 12:13 am

I’d always thought a University Research Park was for companies and technology stepping up from research ideas to small-scale production. Companies should then move on to larger premises for large-scale production. That also leaves space for next cycle of start-ups. Certainly, they should not be just for offices or mature manufacturing.

But I must be wrong because the list of companies seems to be now well established mature companies, so of the scientific or technical.

As George Potter points out, SSTL manufactures cutting-edge £billion satellites. They are still developing but this is hardly a company in its early developing life.

Then take one of the first companies to move in in the 80s, BOC Gases Europe. It was over 100-years-old and transferred its HQ from a building in London. Hardly in need of university support.

Looks more to me that the No 1 function of the Research Park, built on land taken for student/university needs, is to generate income from rents.