Students Barred From Car-Parking at New 79-Unit Digs

Published on: 22 Jun, 2019
Updated on: 27 Jun, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Students moving into newly built digs near the University of Surrey will not be able to park there.

The 79 self-contained studio flats in Ash Grove will have cycle parking areas and car-parking spaces for disabled residents, staff of the building management company plus visitors. But it will bed a “car-free” development.

A pedestrian bridge will link the courtyard to the pavement along the A3, making that a five-minute walk to the Stag Hill campus.

Planning permission with the restrictions was granted by Guildford Borough Council on Wednesday, June 19. Developer Brundell Property Limited said numbers 1 and 2 Ash Grove, which will be demolished to build the flats, were already housing students and there was a “pressing need” for student accommodation in the town.

The flats will be spread over three blocks ranging from three to four floors. A previous application for 88 units had been refused.

Ash Grove resident Len Langley said he was worried about “the parking of building lorries and vans while the build is going on. Lots of noise and disruption in the cul-de-sac will cause congestion”.

He added: “It opens the door to more homes being built on for student accommodation. It does not help the council in any way. They will not get council tax from students or the people who own the property, but the council will have to pick up the rubbish.”

He said the council should be looking to build homes for people wanting to live in the town longer-term and not for those just “passing through”.

Cllr Tony Rooth said the notion students would not need a car was “ridiculous”, adding: “Students tend to have a car and use it as and when they need it.”

The developer offered to fund implementation of a resident parking scheme along Ash Grove so students would not be able to park there.

Cllr Paul Spooner said: “Once everyone is in I think it will be a very good scheme but moving in and moving out will have a very significant impact on residents.”

Vanessa Clipstone, agent for Brundell Property Limited, said it would reduce pressure on housing stock. She said students would not need to use Ash Grove to walk or cycle to the university.

She said they had reduced the number of units and added parking spaces for staff and visitors.

The planning application was passed with 10 voting for and four against.