Guildford
 

The Tangley Lane site was identified by Sustainable Land in 2003 as a potential investment. The site had been previously considered for housing by the local authority for residential use, but stringent guidance on residential development in the Thames Basin on land within the proximity of special protection areas (SPA's) resulted in the site being overlooked.

SPA's are protection areas established for the protection of rare or vulnerable birds.  The guidance restricted new development within 4 kilometres of an SPA, which practically confined development to within the existing settlement boundaries.

As pressure for housing grew within the Thames Basin, it was clear the existing guidance would have to be reconsidered.  Following detailed survey and analysis, our sites' location next to an established settlement, the existing infrastructure and established road network encouraged Sustainable Land to purchased the land in 2004.

Subsequently guidance on SPA's has been reviewed, and mitigation measures for homes within 4 kilometres of special protection areas can now be established, allowing development up to 400 metres of SPA zones.

Following purchase of the Guildford site the complex process of promoting the land from its current designation (greenbelt) to a housing allocation began.  Local Authorities have a set procedure which identifies land for housing, under the current planning system the process occurs through a Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD).  The site allocations document seeks to identify sufficient land to accommodate the projected housing requirements set by central government for the area of the current plan period (2010 – 2026).  The Guildford site allocations DPD process is outlined below, various stages of consultation and representations outline the 4 year process for adopting new policies to allow development to occur to deliver the housing requirements.

The process is particularly key to achieving a change of use for sites that are within the Green Belt.  The process allows sites that are currently not suitable for housing under the current planning policy designations to be promoted for a change of use, which outside this process is very unlikely to happen for large sites.

The Guildford site has been promoted at the initial call for sites, and issues and options stage.  Detailed planning appraisals, negotiations, public consultations and written submissions have taken place over the 18 months during the site allocations process.  The site is identified on the site allocations map number 154 within the Worplesdon area (click on the link below to view the map).

Site allocations map

The table below shows the current stages and timetable of the Site Allocations DPD Prior to this Issues and Options stage of the consultation, the council have carried out ‘Early Stakeholder and Community Engagement’, during which they asked for suggestions for sites in Guildford Borough with development potential. The Worplesdon area has been identified as a potential extension area, along with the delivery of a park and ride scheme. 
 
Site Allocations Timetable

Issues & Options Consultation	21 Nov 07 - 30 Jan 08
Preferred Options Consultation	Jan 09 - Feb 09
Submission to the Secretary of State	Nov 09 - Nov 10
Examination	Nov 10
Adoption	Feb 11

JPC are currently working with their in house team of architects and transport planners on concepts that will enable the council to deliver the priority of a park and ride scheme, through planning gain measures resulting from the proposed residential scheme. The concepts will be displayed in 3 dimensional models, providing the most effective and efficient negotiation tool.  Current negotiations with the local authority are positive, and representatives from the Site Allocation team will meet with JPC in December to present initial options.

Through the promotion work by JPC and their team, Sustainable Land are confident that the site will be included within the preferred options stage early 2009.  Regular updates on the progress of the site can be found on the Sustainable Land web site.  Feedback from JPC’s forthcoming meetings with the local authority will be available in December.