Admitting that policy statements may not affect the legal position, the Conservatives hope they will make developers think twice before pushing proposals for high buildings.

The statement continued: “With towers rising to 14 storeys (seven higher than the current tallest blocks in Guildford and four higher than the tallest blocks so far granted planning permission) massed on a relatively small site, the development risks dominating the character of the town and impairing views and sight-lines as well as raising local issues of privacy and over-
shadowing.

“The special character of the town can only be protected by reducing the overall height and massing of the development.

“The bland design is similarly out of character with Guildford. It could be made more in keeping by incorporating Bargate stone elements, more traditional name stones and date stones, pitched roofs, and a greater variety of more traditional facades around windows and doors. The relatively recent St Luke’s Park development does many of these quite well.

“More generally having the buildings take more cues from the iconic High Street would make it more in character. There are some nods towards this in the proposals, but not nearly enough.”

But Cllr Rig pointed the finger firmly back at the Conservative’s track record on planning saying: “The Conservatives ran the council for a long period up to the 2019 election. They had unlimited time to set rules on massing, heights and roofscapes but chose not to do so.

“We currently live by their 2019 plan although at the moment l am pleased to say we are progressing new ‘Development Management Policies’ covering in great detail very many matters not addressed previously.

“Due to the current make-up of the council with no one party having an overall majority it was decided to have a cross-party panel including the Conservatives to set a direction in planning.

“Design, density and height were discussed at great length. It was recognised that a  fixed policy of ‘one size fits all‘ on heights was inflexible and interestingly only a tiny minority of councils have taken this approach. Usually, they still leave a large degree of flexibility to decide an application on its merits as at Cambridge.

“Judging a development here requires taking into account a broad spread of policies including protecting views, reflecting the special topography of Guildford, the very complex character including the need to value heritage balanced against regeneration and renewal to meet today’s needs. All have to be considered rather than a simple arbitrary limit for those that place a fixed solution on height above all else.

“I acknowledge North Street will be a new and contemporary quarter and it will impact the Guildford landscape. It will not suit some but those that live in the Friary Quarter will be pleased to have somewhere to live especially in the heart of this wonderful town. It will bring new life to the town and to the High Street and after 30 years of dereliction, it is in my view long overdue.”