Vision Group Supports Council’s Defence of Station Planning Refusal

Published on: 15 Oct, 2017
Updated on: 16 Oct, 2017

An artist’s impression of the proposed Solum development of Guildford railway station, viewed from the south-east.

Guildford Vision Group (GVG) is expressing its support for Guildford Borough Council’s defence of its refusal to grant planning permission for a proposal to re-develop Guildford railway station.

In a press release, the group describe the plan, from property developer’s Solum, as a “…ten storey-high juggernaut mixed development alongside the tracks on the east side of the station.”

The planning appeal starts at the council offices at Millmead on November 7 and remarking on its close proximity to November 5th, Bill Stokoe of GVG said: “So, beginning just two days after Bonfire Night, the future of our town centre could lie in ashes.”

Another artist’s impression of how the station frontage would appear according to Solum’s plans.

Council leader Paul Spooner (Con, South Ash & Tongham) and lead councillor for planning at GBC, who is known to have a strained relationship with GVG, declined to comment. But leader of the opposition, Caroline Reeves (Lib Dem, Friary and St Nicolas) within whose ward the station lies, said: “The Solum appeal will be dealt with very robustly with strong reasons for refusal specific to the site and the application itself.

Cllr Caroline Reeves

“We have very sound reasons for refusal based on the poor quality of design, the fact that the plan offers nothing more than a new booking hall and toilet facilities. It will forever block any view as one pulls into the station across the town to the Surrey Hills because of the wall of the badly articulated bulk of the flats and the multi-storey car park.

“It does not resolve the issue of traffic flow into and out of the station or the flow of taxis within the station site. It also impacts on the buildings on Walnut Tree Close and damages close views and those from afar.

“The design does not improve disabled access either in or out of the station or within the station itself. The road system around the town is part of a much bigger plan being created by GBC working with SCC and Highways England.”

Peter Hughes, director at Solum

Peter Hughes, a director at Solum, said during the planning meeting that refused the application in June 2016 : “We are disappointed that the planning officers are recommending refusal. For the past five years, we have worked closely with them and Guildford stakeholders to develop a scheme for the station site.

“Network Rail has a target to deliver 36,000 homes during this parliament and to generate millions that can go towards station improvements.

“The scheme delivers 438 homes… this is the sustainable way to meet housing needs while protecting the green belt.”

But GVG says that a successful appeal would allow the wrong sort of redevelopment of the front of Guildford Station and car park to proceed. The group claims there is widespread concern that the appeal will be successful because of the lack of appropriate adopted planning policies at the council.

It also fears the consequent loss of the opportunity to build a new East/West crossing, a central plank of its masterplan for Guildford.

If the Solum plan goes ahead it will prevent the re-routing of traffic as advocated in the GVG masterplan.

John Rigg, chairman of GVG said: “Critically, from a GVG perspective, the opportunity will be lost to build a new East/West crossing along the most effective route – from York Road roundabout to Guildford Park Road.”

John Rigg, chairman of GVG

“Solum’s development, with its Stalinist design stretching 360 metres alongside the rail tracks, will stand in its way.

“It’s ironic – if the council had adopted our masterplan, or even its own, it might have had a better chance of success. And we will lose the chance to push traffic safely away and reduce pollution where people congregate most along the most popular pedestrian routes to and from the town centre.

“We also fear other developers will use the precedent to pepperpot the town centre with uncoordinated, ill-matched residential and other developments, up to ten storeys high. These would crash our creaking infrastructure and wreck our heritage setting.”

According to GVG, Solum wants just 10% of its 438 apartment to be affordable (ie 80% of average house prices), claiming viability concerns, versus Guildford Council’s policy of a 40% minimum.

“We need a working, deliverable town masterplan,” Rigg continued. “The new Local Plan hasn’t got one. There’s no real town centre plan, apart from a so-called “Regeneration Strategy” that GBC goes on to describe as ‘not forming policy’. It risks being a free for all.”

“The GVG plan and especially its crossing should receive proper scrutiny. It deserves it.”

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