North Street Development Approved by Cross-Party Planning Committee

Guildford’s planning committee voted 13 to 2 last night to approve a planning application for the North Street scheme, following improvements made by the developer.

The approved application includes 471 new flats, 47 of them affordable (including 31 for affordable rent), a new bus station and the partial pedestrianisation of North Street. A previous planning application for the scheme, which involved taller buildings, a smaller bus station and fewer affordable homes, had been rejected by councillors in January this year.

Commenting, George Potter, the Lead Member for Planning in the Liberal Democrat administration at Guildford Borough Council, said:

“I am very proud of all the councillors on the planning committee for doing their job last night. It was not an easy one.

“This was a controversial application, which will shape the future of the town centre for decades to come. The debate last night showed that views on this scheme were very nuanced, with arguments both in favour and against, and it was clear that many councillors felt torn, even with the improvements compared to the original scheme.

“But the committee had to make a decision and they made one based on what they thought was best for the future of our town. Now that a decision has been made, regardless of our personal views, we can all focus on working to make the best of it, for local people and for the future of our town.”