Windfall Grant Allows High Street Redevelopment Project to Proceed

Published on: 14 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 14 Jan, 2025

Waverley Borough Council will refit the vacant store to get it ready for a restaurant with space at the rear for social housing. Picture: Waverley Borough Council

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

Asbestos lining parts of the long-vacant former M & Co and Woolworths site in Godalming can be cleared after a windfall grant was received for the affordable housing and restaurant project.

In 2022, Waverley Borough Council bought the High Street building in the hopes of converting into social housing.

It secured planning permission to build a restaurant with homes round the back in 2023 but work has been on hold until dangerous asbestos is cleared.

The council has now received a grant of £115,000 from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) that should enable that to happen.

The redevelopment of 69 High Street for housing is a “strategic priority” for the council as it looks to bring forward “decent and affordable homes”.

It will also help support a ‘’a more prosperous borough” that supports the local economy and high street. Opponents have described it as an “ego project”.

The extra money comes from The Brownfield Land Release Fund to support housing on brownfield sites.

Cllr Mark Merryweather

Cllr Mark Merryweather (Lib Dem, Farnham Moor Park), portfolio holder for finance, assets and property, said: “This site was acquired in March 2022 as a mixed use development site to pursue the council’s strategy to bring forward of affordable housing, in this case in Godalming Town Centre, and to deliver a positive contribution to Godalming by preserving the integrity of the High Street.”

Work will be done over two phases starting with the redevelopment of the commercial site and work has begun on that, including planning permission for a “much improved commercial space”.

Non-structural strip out work prior to demolition has already been completed.

He added: “Because of its much more intrusive nature, destructive nature if you like, that did reveal some more asbestos on site than had been estimated previously.

“This was a known risk – which together with some known complications in that specific supply chain will cause additional cost – but I’m pleased to report that cost can be funded by a brownfield land release fund grant from DLUHC.”