The Slyfield Area Regeneration Project

Introduction
The Slyfield Area Regeneration Project (SARP) is identified as a component of the current Guildford Development Framework (GDF) preparation process.

The area forms the only significant opportunity for brownfield regeneration in the borough. If successful it will make a substantial contribution to our long-term future planning aspirations. This includes the need to meet the Government’s identified housing targets for the borough, as set out in the draft South East Plan (2006) and the Government's Proposed Changes (2008).

The SARP site is located within the urban area of Guildford, as shown outlined in black on the plan below.

Slyfield site plan [PDF] (1mb)

It comprises the following:

Part of a former landfill site owned by Guildford Borough Council (GBC), allocated for employment development in the Local Plan;
Thames Water’s (TW) Sewage Treatment Works;
Surrey County Council’s (SCC) Waste Transfer Station/Community Resource Centre;
GBC owned Depot and allotments and other small areas of land in the vicinity.

The site area is 41 hectares. All of the land is in the ownership of the Council, TW and SCC and is located adjacent to Slyfield Industrial Estate and housing areas. The A3, River Wey and Riverside Park are also close by.

Work on the SARP is being progressed as a partnership project between the Council, SCC and TW. It is structured in the form of a ‘Planning Performance Agreement’ (PPA), a new project management tool being promoted by government to manage large-scale major planning projects.

The Royal Town Planning Institute has strongly supported the PPA process. Government is taking forward PPA’s as part of its emerging proposals to change the planning legislation.

The Slyfield Area Regeneration Planning Performance Agreement (PPA)
The PPA has been jointly prepared by the three partners with guidance from ATLAS (Advisory Team for Large Applications) and is attached below.

Slyfield Area Regeneration Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) [PDF] (2mb)

The three partners are committed to the PPA which has resulted in:

very positive project management
improved working relationships
communication between partners
joint ownership of problems
early resolution of issues

Involvement of ATLAS
ATLAS is supported by the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Planning Advisory Service and English Partnerships. It provides an independent advisory service for Local Planning Authorities and their partners with specific reference to the delivery of large scale strategic regeneration, housing and mixed-use development projects through the planning system. Its role is to:

help improve the quality of process and outcome
identify and unblock the issues that can hold up progress
increase the knowledge and expertise of local authorities handling such projects
share good practice across the sector
act as an independent reviewer of project evidence and supporting material

ATLAS is actively promoting the use of PPA’s and has been assisting with the SARP project, particularly on preparing a PPA and advising on project management.

The Project
Slyfield Area Regeneration would provide significant opportunities to deliver new developments, in particular:

housing
waste
employment opportunities
significantly improved community and recreational facilities for local residents

If successful, the development would include:

a new Sewage Treatment Works for TW
new waste management facilities for SCC
a new depot for Guildford Borough Council
further land for other private sector waste needs.
employment land
a substantial number of new residential units
improved community, recreation and other local facilities

Current work
The coming year will see a period of information gathering requiring specialist consultant input which will test the viability and the deliverability of the project. Evidence-base assessments will include:

further traffic modelling work
a detailed flood risk assessment
design/master-planning
visual and landscape impact assessment
ecological study

The future twelve months are anticipated to be critical in moving forward on the project with particular emphasis on assessing the traffic implications and impact of the potential development.

Public Consultation
If the evidence-base assessments all provide positive outcomes for the viability and deliverability of the project then there will be a full community engagement project. This will be undertaken using the most effective methods and best practice. It is anticipated that this will be in early/mid 2009.

For further information please contact the Project Manager or the Senior Policy Planner, using the details below.

Project Manager
John Davey
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444660
Email: planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk

Senior Policy Planner
Victoria Potts
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444672
Email: planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk

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