Latest news

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

Hear more about our plans for Weyside Urban Village: 1,500 homes to be built on brownfield land

We have four online public exhibitions in July and August, which anyone can attend to find out more about our proposed riverside development in Guildford. Read more >

Lovelace Neighbourhood Plan referendum proposed

Eligible voters in the Lovelace ward will be able to have their say about the Lovelace Neighbourhood Plan in a future referendum, following the examination of the plan and the Council's decision to accept the examiner's recommendations. Read more >

Guildford welcomes residents back for eating and drinking

Tomorrow (Saturday 4 July) pubs, bars and restaurants in Guildford will be ready to welcome visitors back for the first time since the country's lockdown in March to limit the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). Read more >

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms open on Saturday

Children's lives can begin to return to normal on Saturday as the lifting of restrictions allows all 66 playgrounds in the borough to re-open. Families are asked to 'Play Safe' and follow the Council's guidelines based on the government's Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance. Read more >

Strong message to those who toss litter in Guildford

Despite polite requests and many reminders, littering in Guildford remains a growing problem. Today the Council launches a blunt anti-littering campaign with a strong message appealing for people to 'take litter home'. Read more >

New opening hours for Council's Community Helpline

The Community Helpline set-up by Guildford Borough Council to help residents in need of support during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic will change its opening hours from Monday 6 July. Read more >

Corporate programmes Covid-19 projects review - to be revisited at a later date

Leader of the Council, Cllr Caroline Reeves said: "Since agenda item 6 was published for the Executive meeting, to be held tomorrow evening, we have learned from Twitter that our partners at County Hall may have found renewed spirit for working together to deliver our shared goals. Read more >

Leader Statement - Our High Street Springs Back to Life After Lockdown

As we reach the end of a milestone week with restrictions easing and our non-essential retail shops opening their doors for the first time in three months - I'd like to thank you all again for your continued support and for playing you part by following the government guidance. Read more >

Covid impact means difficult decisions to be made

The impact of the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has put significant financial pressure on the Council as it works hard to provide new, and maintain existing, frontline services for the borough. A £15 million emergency fund was agreed by Full Council in May in anticipation and next week on 23 June at a meeting of the Executive, councillors will make a decision on whether to continue with four existing corporate projects. Read more >

Walnut Bridge construction underway to improve access to town centre for pedestrians and cyclists

A new wider bridge across the River Wey and a landscaped plaza will offer an improved route into the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists. The £5.01 million investment in Guildford town centre will be a safer alternative to the crowded pavements of Bridge Street for residents, commuters and visitors. Read more >

New procurement Strategy set to achieve over £1.2million savings annually from 2022s

The Council has agreed to adopt a new procurement strategy 2020-23, to enable the Council to achieve significant savings while also procuring goods, works and services more effectively. Read more >

#iSupportGuildford - collaboration to support our High Street and welcome residents back to the town centre

We are working with Experience Guildford, our Business Improvement District, to support businesses and retailers and put new safety measures in place ready to welcome residents and visitors back to the town centre. Read more >

Collecting Covid-19 memories - be part of history and share your story with Guildford Museum

The global events of the past few months have affected everybody in our community. Lockdown, social distancing and home have become part of our daily lives. Guildford Museum wants to capture your memories of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic to create a record for future generations to understand how and why our lives changed in 2020. Read more >

Council scrutinises its response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak

The decisions and plans made over the past three months as part of the Council's response to the current pandemic were reviewed at a meeting of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee last week. Read more >

Councillor Patrick Sheard

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Councillor Patrick Sheard, ward councillor for Send. Patrick passed away on Friday 5 June. Read more >

More help for Guildford businesses - apply now for a discretionary grant

Has your business suffered financially due to the impact of the coronavirus? There is now help available for local businesses who did not qualify for earlier government financial support. Guildford Borough Council has launched a Discretionary Grants scheme which will offer grants of up to £25,000 - but you need to act fast. Applications are now open and will close at 6pm on Monday 15 June. Read more >

Share your views to shape sustainable development in our borough from 3 June

Sustainable development, protecting natural habitats, supporting the rural economy and high-quality design across the borough are at the heart of Guildford's preferred approach to the second part of its Local Plan. Read more >

Leader statement: please play your part - take litter home

Councillor Caroline Reeves, Leader of the Council says: "Thank you to our residents who have carefully followed the government guidance, playing their part since March and stayed home to protect our NHS staff in order to save lives. Thanks to you all, we are now moving into the next phase of lockdown where we are able to spend as much time as we like outdoors, shops are beginning to open and we can meet up to six others from outside our household, while keeping two metres apart. Shielded and more vulnerable people can also now go outside. Read more >

Town centre car parks remain free in June

All Council-owned car parks in Guildford town centre will remain free of charge throughout June, as some shops and businesses start to re-open in line with new government guidance. Read more >

Surrey's first dedicated swift tower installed on Shalford Common

Surrey's first dedicated swift nesting tower has been erected on Shalford Common to protect one of Britain's most remarkable and endangered bird species who frequently choose to nest there. Read more >

Mayoral Charity Coronavirus Response Fund for 2020-21

This year, the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Richard Billington has chosen to support the Coronavirus Response Fund as his Mayoral charity, alongside the Mayor of Guildford's Local Support Fund (formerly known as the Mayor of Guildford's Local Distress Fund). Read more >

Future of Guildford Park Car Park to be decided

The future of Guildford Park Car Park will be reviewed after proposals were approved by the Council's Executive on Tuesday (26 May). Read more >

More water bottle refilling stations installed across the borough

Six new bottle refilling stations will be installed in Guildford during May and June as part of the Council's commitment to eliminating single-use plastic containers. Read more >

More free family fun and fundraising at Guildford Live II

We are proud to support the borough's second free family-friendly variety performance, dedicated to our NHS staff and keyworkers, by Guildford Fringe Theatre which takes place on Thursday 28 May at 6.30pm live on Facebook. Read more >

Aspire grant helps fire-hit businesses in Effingham to open new pop-up community store

Effingham has a new community store, thanks to the support of Guildford Borough Council, Effingham Parish Council and the hard work and quick thinking of local residents and churches. Read more >

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Leader Statement: Thank you to our residents

Following the government's change to the Coronavirus guidance this week, Leader of the Council, Cllr Caroline Reeves made the following statement: Read more >

Guildford Heritage's tribute for VE Day 75

"Commemoration and Celebration - memories and legacies of the Second World War" was planned as the inaugural exhibition in the newly renovated Guildford Museum, which was due to open on 4 May following essential works and maintenance. Read more >

Have your say on sustainable development in Guildford

Sustainable development, protecting natural habitats and supporting economic recovery and growth across the borough are at the heart of new policies which form part of Guildford's adopted Local Plan. Read more >

R4GV and Liberal Democrats Unite to Lead Council Together

A new co-operative approach to running the Council as it moves into the second year since the borough elections in 2019 was announced at a meeting of Full Council last night. Read more >

Council marks 75th Anniversary of VE Day with virtual events

VE (Victory in Europe) Day, 8 May 1945 marked the end of nearly six years of war in Europe - a jubilant day following a war that cost millions of lives and caused huge suffering. Read more >

Guildford businesses urged to apply now for remaining £6.25 million grant funding

If you own a business in Guildford, you may qualify for a government grant to help you through the financial impact of the coronavirus. So far we have paid £15.745 million to 1,154 local businesses, but if you have not applied yet we still have £6.255 million available to help you. Read more >

Mayor Making rescheduled for 2021

In view of the current lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Government has recently changed the law to allow councils to not only hold 'virtual meetings', but also to dispense with the need to hold an annual meeting this year. Read more >

Guildford in Bloom 2020 goes digital

Our borough's favourite gardening competition Guildford in Bloom (#GiB2020) will take place for the 39th time this year, but with an innovative twist: we've gone online! Read more >

Committed to our communities

Over the past five weeks we have been extremely proud to protect and care for our communities while maintaining essential and enhanced services and supporting our NHS partners. We've been so pleased to hear from feedback that we are making a real difference to people's lives during these unprecedented times. Read more >

Mayor's Award honours service to the community

Over 20 local residents and groups who between them give hundreds of hours each week to make a real difference in their community have been recognised and celebrated by the Mayor of Guildford. Read more >

Council responds to Coronavirus (Covid-19) emergency

An emergency budget of £15 million was unanimously agreed by councillors to cover the anticipated impact of the Coronavirus pandemic at the first online meeting of the Executive last night. Read more >

Leader's statement on countryside car park closures

Leader of the Council, Cllr Caroline Reeves said: "We understand that some residents disagree with our decision to close our countryside car parks while our parks and countryside remains open. General government guidance (which applies to town centres, cities and rural areas) is advising us to stay local and use open spaces near to our homes where possible and not travel unnecessarily. Read more >

£15.6million for Guildford businesses still unclaimed

If you own a business in Guildford, you may qualify for a grant to help you through the financial impact of the coronavirus. We have £22 million in government funding available, but so far we have only been able to pay 25% of this as many local businesses have not applied. Read more >

Planning Committee launches virtual meetings

Members of the public will be invited to share their views on a number of local planning applications when the Guildford Borough Council Planning Committee launches its first ever online meeting on Wednesday 20 May at 7pm. Read more >

Don't miss out on business grants - £3 million already distributed locally

Do you run a business in Guildford borough? Have you applied for funding to help you during the coronavirus? We have already distributed £3.1 million of government funding to local businesses as the coronavirus affects trade across our local economy and expect to make all remaining payments in April. Read more >

Council urges residents to not support sky lantern campaign

Guildford Borough Council joins the National Fire Chiefs Council, RSPCA and other organisations in urging residents to not support a social media campaign to light sky lanterns on Thursday night. 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 >

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 >