Latest news

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and press releases.

Please stay at home and stop the spread

We'd like to say thank you to all of our residents who are diligently following the government guidelines to #stayhomesavelives and only go outside for essential groceries and to exercise once a day. Read more >

£150 Council Tax rebate for Guildford Local Council Tax Support recipients

Local Council Tax Support recipients within the borough of Guildford will automatically receive a further discount of £150 on their Council Tax bill for 2020-21. Read more >

Council calls for everyone to play their part

We know many of our residents and businesses are taking necessary precautions and making all the necessary sacrifices to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) - thank you. We are also aware that there are a few people who are choosing to not follow the guidance on staying at home and social distancing and we strongly urge everyone to play their part. Read more >

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - help for tenants and the homeless

Guildford Borough Council will fully help and support residents through this difficult time. Read more >

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) - help for business ratepayers

The government has announced a range of help for businesses to be delivered by us as a Council to help support businesses affected by the Coronavirus (Covid-19). These measures are evolving. Information on the current situation and what you can do now to help us help you is below. If you think you qualify for any of the help listed here, please do not telephone us. We do not have any further information and we need to focus on plans to deliver the help. Read more >

Coronavirus (Covid-19): Statement From Caroline Reeves, Leader of Guildford Borough Council

As these uncertain times become more challenging by the day, I want to reassure you that we are doing all we can to ensure we continue to deliver essential services, and support to our communities as best we can. Read more >

Community spirit helps provide targeted support to those in need

We have received many offers of help from the local community, asking how they can support those in need during the coronavirus outbreak. It's fantastic to see such community spirit from the people of our borough, but it's important that voluntary support is done in a safe and coordinated way. We have asked Voluntary Action South West Surrey to take on the vital role of coordinating this in our area and their contact details are below. Read more >

Farewell to About Guildford newspaper after 24 years

The final souvenir issue of About Guildford, the Council's own newspaper, will be delivered to every residential address in the borough next week from 16 March 2020. The decision is part of our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and tackle climate change at a local level. Instead, we are taking our news online. Read more >

Puttenham Neighbourhood Plan - consultation dates announced

A seven-week consultation on the Puttenham Neighbourhood Plan (2016-2033) will begin on Monday 9 March 2020. Read more >

Have your say on Guildford borough's future

What do you think should be our top priority to ensure Guildford continues to be one of the most successful boroughs in the South East? Read more >

Personal touch in developing local businesses

Do you run a business in our borough? Looking for some bespoke advice on how to grow it, recruit the best talent and keep your finances in good shape? Guildford Business Growth offers all this and more. Read more >

The power of football making a difference in Guildford

Local children now have access to a low-cost pay-and-play football programme on a state-of-the-art pitch thanks to a successful funding bid involving Guildford Borough Council. Read more >

Consultation on Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy Supplementary Planning Document

We are consulting on the new draft Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and would like to hear your views. Our online consultation is now open until 30 March. Read more >

Final legal challenge to Local Plan dismissed

Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Reeves said: "I am delighted to confirm that all legal challenges to the adoption of Guildford's Local Plan: Strategy and Sites have been dismissed by the High Court and Court of Appeal. Read more >

Guildford Community Fridge now open at the Park Barn Centre

Guildford's Community Fridge is now open for everyone to use! We want to help address food waste and food poverty in the borough and encourage the local community to support each other with donations of fresh food essentials. Salads, fruit and vegetables, dairy products and much more will be available for anyone to collect, free of charge. Read more >

Continuing valuable financial support for community and voluntary organisations

Homeless charities and health projects are among local community organisations set to benefit from over £220,000 in council funding, approved at a meeting of the Council's Executive on Tuesday night (18 February). Read more >

Council meetings to go paperless

All Guildford Borough Council meetings will become paperless from April 2020, following a resolution passed by the Council's Executive last night (Tuesday 18 February). Read more >

Guildford Borough Council and St Edward Homes: Working in partnership to deliver North Street, Guildford

Significant brownfield site to provide a mix of new homes, public spaces, local jobs and new bus station. Read more >

State-of-the-art sustainable new allotment site for the borough

Community gardening in Guildford continues to evolve with plans for an environmentally friendly and sustainable new allotment site taking a step forward this week. Read more >

Slam Dunk for Team Guildford's Young Ambassador's evening - Specsavers Surrey Youth Games

On Thursday 6 February, players from the Surrey Scorchers, Deputy Mayor Marsha Moseley, and 40 young people nominated to be Specsavers Surrey Youth Games Young Ambassadors, came together to celebrate a programme of free sessions aimed at giving young people the chance to try a variety of sports and physical activities in Guildford. Read more >

Council agrees budget for new local homes, better services and more savings

Last night (5 February) the Council approved next year's budget and other financial plans. Read more >

£300,000 funding boost to help rough sleepers off the streets

More support to help rough sleepers with mental health conditions and substance misuse issues will be available across our borough, thanks to a successful £300,000 bid for government funding. Read more >

New homes at Siren House help meet our social housing need

Twelve new flats at Siren House on Ladymead in central Guildford have welcomed their first tenants, as part of our ongoing commitment to build more homes to meet the needs of our social housing tenants. Read more >

Two Conservation Area Appraisal Consultations now open

Guildford Borough Council will be conducting a four-week public consultation on two draft conservation area appraisals for West Horsley and Effingham. Read more >

The Mayor's Award for Access - nominations required

The Mayor's Award for Access recognises those that make a positive contribution to the lives of disabled people in the borough. Read more >

Openness and collaboration to combat climate change

The agenda packs and minutes of the Council's recently formed Climate Change and Innovation Board (CCIB) are now available to the public. Read more >

Price freeze in most town centre car parks approved

A price freeze in most town centre car parks, more electric vehicle charging points and a new 'early bird' rate at Farnham Road car park to help commuters were all agreed at a meeting of the Council's Executive last night (21 January). Read more >

Have your say on our Strategic Development Framework planning document

Following the adoption of Guildford's Local Plan: strategy and sites in 2019, we are currently working on our preferred options for more detailed Development Management Policies to provide further guidance on future development in our borough. Read more >

Community lottery winner donates prize to charity

The winner of Guildford Community Lottery's pre-Christmas draw said he had never won anything in his life - and then immediately donated his prize to Artventure learning disabilities charity in Merrow! Read more >

Exhibition gives a fascinating taste of history for all ages

Eating In, the new exhibition which opens at Guildford House Gallery this Saturday, is sure to give plenty of food for thought in telling the fascinating story of home cooking - including a time when children drank more beer than milk! Read more >

Send Neighbourhood Plan consultation starts 17 January

A six-week consultation on the Send Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2034 will begin on Friday 17 January 2020. Residents will have until 28 February to share their views on the plan. Read more >

Guildford Borough Council installs its first water bottle refilling station

As part of its commitment to eliminating single-use plastic containers, the Council has installed its first ever water bottle refilling station. Read more >

Above and beyond: who makes a real difference in your community? Nominations invited for Mayor's award

Do you know anyone in your community who goes out of their way to improve the lives of others? Read more >

Major council investment unlocked for Weyside Urban Village infrastructure

Significant funding to unlock the infrastructure phase of the Weyside Urban Village project in Guildford was approved by the Council's Executive last night (7 January). Read more >

Walnut Bridge and Bedford Plaza projects take a further step forward

The Walnut Bridge and the Bedford Plaza projects took another step forward at last night's (7 January) Executive meeting. Read more >

Increase in funding for voluntary organisations in Guildford

Last night, the Executive approved recommendations to increase future financial support for voluntary and community organisations across Guildford. Read more >

General Election result for the Guildford Constituency

The result of the election of a Member of Parliament for the Guildford Constituency has been declared. Read more >

Major investment approved as £52.3 million grant awarded for new Weyside Urban Village

The new Weyside Urban Village project took another significant step forward today as the Chancellor announced that the Council's bid for £52.3 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to support the provision of 1,500 new homes on the site has been successful. Read more >

Final results for all 22 Guildford Borough wards now online

We have been publishing the results for each ward as they were declared throughout the day. Read more >

New Local Plan - Planning Inspector's final report published

The government's Planning Inspector has now produced his final report and recommendations and submitted them to the Council. This marks the end of his independent examination of our submitted Local Plan. Read more >

Chantry Wood campsite to remain open

The Council's Executive have agreed that Chantry Wood campsite in the Surrey Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) will remain open for use by the public. Read more >