At a meeting organised by Anne Milton MP at the Houses of Parliament, Guildford Vision Group and Anne pressed for a reassessment of Solum’s Guildford Station scheme. Present at the meeting were Claire Perry MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, plus representatives from her Department, Network Rail and Solum.
All agreed that the station area was ideal for redevelopment that would bring much needed new town centre housing.
Guildford MP, Anne Milton said: “I want all transport options catered for so that all rail users get better facilities from the station redevelopment. I want to see Solum involving local people to discuss the options. It’s important that any scheme reflects the aims of the town Masterplan and local people’s expectations. It’s a big site and any redevelopment must be of the right design. The current plans do not address this. The meeting was a very positive step and I’m grateful that there was a general acceptance that another look at the scheme’s features and benefits is worthwhile.”
Guildford Vision Group continues to argue for a comprehensive appraisal of its bridge option (connecting York Road with Guildford Park Road) as it believes the new bridge would allow redirection of traffic away from the current gyratory. It claimed its bridge would better separate traffic from pedestrians in the town centre, creating a safer, less polluted environment and better foot and cycle connections with the heart of the town and riverside.
The Minister recognised that any redevelopment should benefit train travellers through better facilities, including shops, whilst also releasing land for housing. However, the current Solum scheme does not, for instance, include lifts or escalators to improve platform access, especially for those with mobility difficulties. With the scheme designed to produce £25 million towards station improvements, there was a case for a ‘value for money’ reappraisal. The current Solum scheme, if approved in June, would also avoid any Community Infrastructure Levy (vs Town Masterplan potential of £10 million).
“Any development has to chime with our community needs,” said Bill Stokoe, a director of Guildford Vision Group. “The station should become an integrated transport hub and provide an altogether better travel experience for visitors, business people and residents. It should build on its ‘halfway house’ location between Heathrow and Gatwick airports. A more exciting approach to development, especially our bridge, would allow improved connection with East and West Guildford, better linking the stationand town with the University, Research Park, Royal Surrey Hospital and the Cathedral.”
Guildford Vision Group emphasised its pro-growth approach, as evidenced by its successful campaign for the Town Centre Masterplan, recently approved by Guildford Borough Council. The Masterplan includes more affordable housing at the station with a mixed redevelopment on a smaller, lower scale that nonetheless would deliver a significant surplus towards station and wider town infrastructure improvements.
The Solum planning application is due to be considered at the Guildford Borough Council Planning Committee in June. Ten storeys high and stretching 360 metres along the east side of the tracks on Network Rail land, the scheme offers 438 apartments, of which 10% are affordable. Solum is a joint development venture between Kier Developments Limited and Network Rail Properties, part of Government-owned Network Rail.