One of the biggest problems facing the country in general at the moment is a housing crisis. Almost irrespective of where you find yourself, people are struggling to be able to fine a home that is right for them. Guildford is no different to anywhere else in that sense, which is why the Weyside Urban Village has been given the go-ahead. The hope is that it will be able to provide around 1,500 new homes, aiming to ease the housing crisis in the local area. As an added benefit, the responsible urban development will ensure it is a sustainable addition to Guildford as a whole.
What the Weyside Urban Village Aims to Be
In June 2019, it was confirmed that the contracts had been signed between Thames Water and the Guildford Borough Council in order to pave a way forward for the development of the Slyfield Area. The project had already been 15 years in the making by that point, but the formal initiation of what was to become the Weyside Urban Village was a major step forward. The plan was put in place for the building of about 1,500 new homes, of which in the region of 40% would fall under the ‘affordable’ label for the area.
It marked the first time that a water company had worked with a council on a project of its kind, with Thames Water’s Chief Operating Officer a the time, Steve Spencer, believing that it was something that the rest of the industry would be watching closely to see how it developed. Fast-forward nearly six years and more work has been done to get the plans to a stage where people can feel as though they can see some genuine change in the local area, allowing visitors a sense of what the area will look like once the work has been completed.
So Much More Than Housing
One of the things that the people of Guildford will be pleased to learn is that it is about so much more than just a housing development. One proposal is for the land at Burpham Court Farm to be used to create a new nature reserve, for example. The hope is that the land can be converted into a space that will give people the opportunity to enjoy nature at the same time as enjoying biodiversity. With nearly 50 hectares available for a variety of habitats to be put in place, it will mean that residents will have greater access to nature.
That isn’t the only area where nature is at the forefront of the thinking. In the March of 2023, planning permission was granted for the building of a new council depot, as well as a multi-storey car park and an MOT testing centre. Whilst the latter two might not sound overly environmentally friendly, the new depot will see numerous different council departments brought together under one roof to improve efficiency, as well as be a state-of-the-art location for the various departments and services that are moved there.
Those that like to spend some time at an allotment will be pleased to know that there will be two new sites in the borough that will be given over to such a thing. Both North Moors and Woodside Road will be used to offer as many as 113 new allotments across the two locations, with some of the plots already having been inhabited by those that had previously been using allotments at Bellfields Road. It has been seen as an opportunity to enhance Guildford’s community, giving people the opportunity to get into using an allotment if they wish to.
A Regeneration Project for Guildford
Overall, the entire point of the Weyside Urban Village is that it is to become a regeneration project for the entirety of Guildford, enhancing the community and, most importably, enhancing the housing needs of the borough as a whole. The new houses are to be built on brownfield land, allowing for the preservation of the Green Belt in the surrounding area. The entire point is for the project to be sustainable, incorporating essential upgrades to the local infrastructure at the same time as promising long-term sustainability.
In addition to the new depot and the creation of more houses, for example, will be the building of a new sewage treatment plant. That will look to not only ensure that the Village is sustainable, but also that it is able to function in the best way possible. The new local centre will look to foster a sense of community for all who live nearby, with the addition of around 1,800 square-metres of retail estate promising new shops and other areas for residents to take advantage of. Given the fact that healthcare and other conveniences will be included, it should be a boon to residents.