Redevelopment plans submitted for Guildford Park Road car park
The proposed development is set to transform the underutilised Guildford Park Road car park into much-needed new homes. With the potential to deliver 248 new high-quality homes, the design includes:
- 40% affordable council housing
- appealing public spaces that celebrate the town's unique character.
The proposals have been carefully crafted by the design team. They include family homes in a mix of dwelling types:
- four apartment buildings (four to six storeys)
- fifteen Townhouses (two to three storeys) are set either side of a central 'Living Street'.
The 'Living Street will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists in a landscaped social space.
Consultation on the proposals
Before submitting the plans, the team held consultations events across Guildford, including at:
- The Rotunda on North Street
- the Student Union on the University of Surrey campus
- Grace Church, near the site.
Over 1,250 responses were received from the community. The feedback has been positive with the majority of respondents supporting the proposals. The project team has reviewed this feedback before submitting the planning application.
Lasting legacy for the community
Alongside the vital homes the project will have a lasting legacy for the community. Central to the plans is an extensive £11 million social value programme, which will Wates will deliver. This will support a number of initiatives in the local community, including:
- creating 40 new local jobs and provide training and upskilling opportunities
- supporting all age groups through community initiatives such
- the Green Schools Project
- graffiti clean-up project
- 200 hours volunteering in the community
- 39 work experience placements.
Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Housing, Councillor Julia McShane, said:
"I'm pleased that the Council has been able to act on our long-held ambition to invest in underutilised, council-owned land and redevelop this site. It's good to see plans for this strategic site progressing to the planning stage.
"The proposals include much-needed new homes for Guildford, with 40% of these owned and managed by the Council, for those who need them most. The project will truly transform the area for local communities."
Lee Bushell, Regional Managing Director, Wates Residential, said:
"Wates are proud to have developed a Social Value Action Plan that makes these proposals so valuable for Guildford. With the plan worth up to £11 million, this development won't just deliver housing, it will contribute to creating more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive borough, in line with the key priorities of Guildford Borough Council and create a lasting impact for the community.
"We are delighted to have partnered with Guildford Borough Council on this project and look forward to delivering these much-needed new homes to a town we as a Group have such a long-established history with."
Following the extensive consultation and development of the proposals, the planning application has now been submitted.
What happens next
These plans will
- follow the formal application process
- be reviewed at a future Planning Committee.
We're hopeful construction will begin by Summer 2026 with completion forecast towards the end of 2028.