Normandy Takes Part in Day Of Action To Highlight Taylor Wimpey Housing Plans

Published on: 27 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 27 Apr, 2026

Normandy campaigners who oppose Taylor Wimpey’s housing plans

By David Reading

Normandy residents turned out in force to mark a national day of action seeking to protect green spaces from housing developments and to show decision-makers that nature matters to voters ahead of the May local elections.

At present Normandy people are campaigning against Taylor Wimpey’s proposals to build 950 homes on open farmland between Normandy and Flexford.

The national day of action was organised by the Community Planning Alliance (CPA) and supported by more than 220 groups, including the Woodland Trust and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Described as a ‘Day of Nature’, Normandy’s action on April 18 involved a symbolic walk on part of the proposed development site, from Glaziers Lane to Westwood Lane. The organisers were the Normandy Action Group (NAG).

NAG Treasurer Paul Hart, who led the walk, said: ” Given that we only knew about this ‘Day for Nature’ at fairly short notice, the fact that 57 people turned out to show their solidarity made me very proud of our community. This shows the strength of feeling in Normandy and the surrounding villages. Think how many more we could have attracted with a longer period of advance planning.”

Residents see the potential development site as an important wildlife and heritage habitat.

Normandy’s action involved a symbolic walk on part of the proposed development site

NAG Chair Mike Aaronson said: “It is absurd that a proposal of this scale and complexity, which if approved would have a devastating effect on the countryside in Normandy, should be brought forward on an opportunistic basis by a developer outside of the Local Plan process.

“The Government is understandably determined to build more homes, but a mad rush by private developers to dig up our green fields is not in the long-term national interest and will not solve the current housing problem either.”

Taylor Wimpey’s spplication, together with a separate one for an associated “Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace” (SANG), has been lodged with Guildford Borough Council.

The application seeks the demolition of existing stables buildings and a phased, residential development. Taylor Wimpey maintains the company would include numerous benefits for Normandy as part of the application.

The developers say these would include elderly people’s accommodation, a two-form form entry primary school and a Special Educational Needs school. In addition, there would be playing fields created and a neighbourhood centre including café, retail floorspace and a medical centre.

But opponents have cited numerous issues including the loss of green belt land, fears about road safety and traffic, pressure on health services, changes to Normandy’s local character, management of sewage, flooding and the threat to wildlife habitats.