Latest news

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

More Support For Rate-Paying Businesses

New grants of up to £3,000 are available to help local businesses which have been affected by the second national lockdown in place since Thursday 5 November. Read more >

Budget Consultation: Where should we prioritise our spending?

We are asking residents to have their say on where we should prioritise our spending after medium-term budget plans considered by the Executive last week predicted a shortfall of £2 million next year, rising to a total £4.4 million in the next four years. Read more >

Honorary Alderman Gordon Bridger

It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of Former Mayor and Honorary Alderman Gordon Bridger last week (Friday, 27 November). Read more >

New Trees to be planted on Stoughton Recreation Ground to help tackle Climate Change

New trees, shrubs and bulbs will be planted on Stoughton Recreation Ground this winter as part of Surrey County Council's Greener Future Design Challenge. Read more >

Small Business Tour Comes To Town

Guildford's brilliant independent businesses will be celebrated in the Small Business virtual tour on Monday 30 November, as we continue to support our local economy through the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more >

Park For Less This Christmas

Residents, shoppers and those working in the town centre will be able to park their cars for less over the Christmas and New Year period as part of an initiative to encourage everyone to stay longer when visiting the town. Read more >

Grants give boost to local Parish Councils

Local villages are set to benefit from our Concurrent Functions Grant Aid Scheme, which provides financial assistance to parish councils to support projects to improve the lives of local residents. Read more >

Budget Challenges, residents to help set priorities

The Executive considered the latest outline budget for 2021-22 and business planning to help with the Council's medium-term plans up to 2025 at a meeting last night (24 November). Savings will continue and residents will be asked for their views on where to prioritise spending. Read more >

Supporter of the Guildford Lottery wins national prize

A local player of our Community Lottery won a national prize for a Family Forest Staycation when he bought tickets to support Guildford's radio station Kane FM in the Autumn prize draw. Read more >

Bringing some Christmas Sparkle to your Door!

While we were sadly unable to hold our traditional community Christmas Lights event this week, we are delighted to celebrate the switch-on and the countdown to the holidays with a special video dedicated to our wonderful borough. Read more >

Reminder: Shalford Common Consultation deadline extended to 31 December 2020

Our Shalford Common consultation deadline has been extended. You now have until the 31 December 2020 to share your views on the management of Shalford Common. Read more >

Grant Applications Open For Businesses Closed During Lockdown

Grants of up to £3,000 are available to help local businesses which have had to close during the four-week national lockdown, as we continue to support our local economy during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Read more >

Weyside Urban Village Proposals Nearing Completion

We are nearing completion of the outline proposals for our exciting riverside development in Guildford, to build approximately 1500 new homes on brownfield land at Slyfield. Read more >

Leave a message for loved ones on our memorial Christmas Trees

Guildford Crematorium invites families to write a message in memory of loved ones to be placed on their memorial Christmas trees from Wednesday 2 December. Read more >

Reducing anti-social behaviour and crime in Guildford Town Centre

Residents, visitors and those who work in the town will be able to enjoy Guildford more safely following an extension to our Guildford Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Read more >

Games Festival goes global this weekend

Guildford Games Festival returns this weekend, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November, as the 'Hollywood of Video Games' takes its line-up of legendary developers and titles to a global audience. Read more >

Guildford remembers - online

We thank everybody who watched our live ceremony, broadcast on our Facebook page on Sunday morning to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Read more >

Watch our Service of Remembrance live on Facebook

Our Service of Remembrance, this Sunday at 11am, will be broadcast live on our Facebook page to allow all residents to commemorate with us. Read more >

Leader's Statement - lockdown 2.0

Cllr Joss Bigmore, Leader of the Council says: "From tomorrow we enter a second lockdown alongside the rest of England. It is now more important than ever that we continue to play our part to reduce the spread of the virus by following new government restrictions, to save lives and protect the NHS. Read more >

Care and Repair Team shortlisted for National Healthy Housing Awards

Our Care and Repair Team has been shortlisted for the National Healthy Housing Awards. Read more >

Re-housing homeless people with Next Steps Accommodation Programme

We are continuing our work to re-house and support homeless people in the borough by providing more accommodation for rough sleepers. Read more >

Guildford Innovation Awards 2020 now open

We celebrate inspiring innovation in our dynamic borough on Thursday 17 December as the 2020 Guildford Innovation Awards move online. Read more >

Meeting social housing needs in the borough

We have reviewed and updated our tenancy strategy including what tenancies we can offer. For some time, we have been able to grant 'flexible tenancies' a newer type of 'fixed-term' secure tenancy. Most of our current 'secure tenants' will not be affected. Read more >

Rodent pest control charges introduced from July 2021

Charges for rat and mice infestation treatments in the borough will be brought in line with other Surrey districts from July 2021 - but will remain free for residents who receive income benefits. Read more >

Supporting our borough's children and families over half term

Cllr Julia McShane, Lead Councillor for Community says: "This half term we are working in partnership with Foodwise TLC, a charity delivering food provision, training and education to local communities, to help prevent local children going hungry by providing meals to local families who need them. If you need any support or help, please get in touch with your school who will help you get referred. Read more >

Safety Marshals to help town centre visitors

New Coronavirus (Covid-19) measures, including Safety Marshals, will be introduced to our town centre from Saturday 31 October for four months. Read more >

Mayor of Guildford update

Leader of the Council, Cllr Joss Bigmore says "Thank you for your kind thoughts for our Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Richard Billington over the past few weeks. Read more >

Our Crematorium wins two Guildford Society Design Awards

Our redeveloped Guildford Crematorium has been honoured in two categories at the Guildford Society Design Awards 2020, announced on Monday 5 October. Read more >

Update on disabled parking bays in the town centre

Cllr Julia McShane, Lead Councillor for the Community, says: "After listening to residents', we have now decided to remove all temporary barriers blocking disabled parking spaces on the High Street. Read more >

Save money on energy bills with Green Jump Surrey

Residents can save money on their energy bills with a new 'Green Jump Surrey' grant. Read more >

Looking for a job? We can help

If you're currently unemployed, facing redundancy or looking to get back into work, we can help. Read more >

Guildford awarded most Green Flags in Surrey

Our beautiful parks and green spaces have been awarded nine Green Flags - the most in Surrey. Read more >

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

We have two more online public exhibitions in October and November which anyone can attend to find out more about our proposed exciting riverside development in Guildford. These follow our successful online events in July and August, where we welcomed over 200 residents, over three-quarters of whom supported our plans. Read more >

Applications now open for £500 Self-Isolation Payment

If you cannot work from home after being told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, currently receive benefits and will lose income whilst self-isolating, you can now apply for a government payment of £500 to help you at this time. Read more >

Interim injunction issued after successful planning enforcement hearing

The High Court has issued us with an interim injunction in relation to a site in Seale where planning control breaches are taking place. Read more >

Working in partnership to stop fly tippers in Ash

Our Joint Enforcement Team (JET) has been working in collaboration with Ash Parish Council to take enforcement action against fly tippers in our borough. Read more >

A new Leader announced

Cllr Joss Bigmore was voted the new Leader of the Council at a meeting of Full Council on Tuesday 6 October. The change of leadership was part of a planned new co-operative approach to running the Council as it moves into the second year since the borough elections in 2019. Read more >

Celebrating Clean Air Day this Thursday

We celebrate Clean Air Day this Thursday, 8 October, with a renewed commitment to improving air quality and reducing air pollution in our beautiful borough. Read more >

Wanborough Fields: enforcement notices issued for planning breaches

The owners of two plots of land at Wanborough Fields have been issued with enforcement and stop notices following a series of planning control breaches. Read more >

Guildford LIVE #3: Silver Sunday, online entertainment for all the family

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company's hugely successful online variety show Guildford LIVE returns for a third instalment on Sunday 4 October at 6.30pm to celebrate Silver Sunday, the national day for older people, with a fantastic evening of music and magic. We are sponsoring the event through our dedicated community programme - Aspire. Read more >

Landlord of unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation prosecuted

A local landlord has been fined for operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without a licence in Guildford. The landlord was found guilty following a prosecution by our Private Sector Housing Officers. Read more >

Our Museum Takes over the Town!

Guildford Museum showcases a unique 'Town Take Over' initiative from Saturday 3 October connecting exciting objects in it's collection with historic locations across the town. Read more >

Video game industry grows and Guildford Games Festival is back

Guildford Games Festival, supported by the UK's games industry trade body UKIE and age ratings advisory body AskAboutGames and sponsored by us and Enterprise M3 LEP, goes global in 2020 as it returns for a second year on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November to mark the industry's continued success in the borough. Read more >

Lottery helps raise £100k for good causes in our borough!

Guildford Community Lottery celebrated a major milestone in its fundraising efforts for local good causes this week - and will give anybody who helps raise even more money by 31 October a chance to win a fantastic family forest staycation. Read more >

Our pawfect animal welfare work rewarded

We have retained our Bronze Animal Activity Licensing Award from the RSPCA PawPrints Awards for the second consecutive year. Read more >

Have your say on Council Tax Support

In 2013, following widespread consultation, we introduced a new Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme. Each year we have reviewed and updated the scheme following your feedback and we are again this year asking for you to have your say. Read more >

Planned change of leadership

Councillor Caroline Reeves resigned as Leader of the Council at a meeting of the Executive last night. As the office of Leader is now vacant, under the terms of Article 6 of the Constitution, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Joss Bigmore will act as Leader and is entitled to exercise all functions reserved to the Leader until a new Leader is elected by the Council. Read more >

New guidance to ensure low carbon, sustainable development in Guildford borough

New housing developments in the borough will have lower carbon emissions, be more sustainable and better able to meet the challenge of climate change after new guidance was adopted at a meeting of the Executive last night. Read more >

Improved pedestrian and cyclist paths providing safer, greener travel in Guildford

Residents, students and those on their way to work travelling from other areas of Guildford to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Surrey Research Park and Surrey Sports Park can now enjoy a smoother, safer journey thanks to the completion of the next phase of improvements we have made working with Surrey County Council and Highways England. Read more >

New flood defences for Guildford town centre to be considered

New flood defences for Guildford Town Centre will be discussed as part of the Council's review of Guildford Flood Alleviation Scheme proposals. Read more >

The Council's response to Coronavirus and keeping residents safe

Councillors were updated on ongoing response work to the pandemic, guidance changes, nationwide testing issues and the work of the Safer Guildford Partnership at a meeting of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier this week. Read more >

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills restoration work completed

Access to one of Guildford's most important heritage sites has been improved following completion of the latest restoration works at the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills. Read more >

Have your say on the management of Shalford Common

An online survey is now available to Shalford residents to help create a plan that will address issues including car parking on the common and parking on access tracks. Read more >

Join us virtually and in person for our Heritage Open Days 11-13 September

Guildford throws open its doors to the world from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September as England's largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, goes online for the first time. Residents and visitors will also be able to attend some of the exciting events in person in-line with Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidelines. Read more >

Taxi driver has licence revoked - Crown Court dismisses appeal

A hackney carriage driver has had their appeal against the Council's decision to revoke their driver's licence dismissed by Guildford Crown Court. Read more >

Update on Chantry Woods Campsite

Lead Councillor for the Environment, Cllr James Steel provides an update on the town's Chantry Woods campsite: Read more >

Update on public events in Guildford

All large events planned for 2020 on Council-owned land will be postponed or cancelled as the safety of our residents, visitors and staff remains our top priority. Read more >

Celebrating 75th anniversary of VJ Day in Guildford

VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, 15 August 1945 marked the day on which Japan surrendered bringing an end to nearly six years of war in the far east - a triumphant day following a war that cost millions of lives and saw unimaginable suffering with thousands held as prisoners of war. 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 >

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 >