Guildford council buys Wey House

An office building in the centre of Guildford has been bought by the council as part of its plan to invest in property. Guildford Borough Council has bought three/four storey Wey House, a 44,945 sq ft building in Farnham Road with a view to gaining income from it. Cllr Geoff Davis, lead councillor for economic development, said: "Buying Wey House is a good investment and a strategic property asset for the Council. It will also provide a healthy future income." The building is 200 metres of

Planners agree 78 homes can go ahead after minister ruling

A development of 78 homes to the north of Chinnor, Oxfordshire has been given the go-ahead. The application by A2 Dominion Developments Ltd, was initially submitted two years ago but was refused largely because an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was needed. However the Secretary of State has since ruled it was not needed and the plan for homes on the 8.9 acre farmland site were allowed to be resubmitted, and were passed by South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) planning committee on

Huge mixed use development for Woking town centre

A mixed use scheme including 560 flats in six buildings up to 35 floors is due to go before planners at Woking Borough Council by October. The town centre development at 20-32 Goldsworth Road, close to the station, was submitted last month by Rolfe Judd Planning on behalf of developer Prime Place. The high rise scheme on a site of just 1.85 acres, is for six blocks of ground floors plus 34, 26, 20, 17, 14 and 10 storeys above. Also included is 114,000 sq ft of offices, 9,073 sq ft of retail

Second approval for mixed use scheme at Didcot A Power Station

The large mixed use scheme for Didcot A Power Station has been approved for the second time. The 115 acre site lies mostly within the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) boundary but around a quarter of it comes under South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC). VWHDC approved it July 27 and on August 10 SODC gave did the same. The application includes 135,000 sq m of warehouse and industrial space plus 13,000 sq m of retail including a convenience store, a pub/restaurant and 150-bed

Council approves 550 homes - with a deadline

Two developers who won planning permission to build 550 homes in Hook must have a legal agreement for s106 contributions in place by September 30 or lose the consent. David Wilson Homes and Croudace Homes won permission for the development on a 95-acre site north of London Road in the Hampshire town at Hart District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, August 10. The application was first submitted in March 2014 and a year later the council’s planning (major sites) sub-committee

Guildford Draft Local Plan attracts another 20,000 comments

Councillors in Guildford, keen to get their latest Local Plan published, say the number of comments received is around 20,000. Consultation on the draft plan is now closed but the council estimates the number of comments is similar to that received two years ago when almost 20,000 comments were submitted from about 7,000 residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders. Cllr Paul Spooner, leader of the council, said: "I would like to thank everyone again for their feedback about the

300,000 sq ft addition for Oxford Science Park

Work is planned to start early next year to add 300,000 sq ft of offices and laboratory space at Oxford Science Park. A planning application was submitted this summer for the new space and the park hopes to have consent by around November with the 56-week building works commencing in January 2017. Managing director Piers Scrimshaw-Wright said the park, which is wholly owned by Magdalen College Oxford after the college bought out its joint venture partner M&G; Real Estate last year, features

Sheerwater regeneration may start next year

Massive plans to regenerate the Sheerwater estate in Woking borough could get approval by the end of the year with work starting in Autumn 2017. Woking Borough Council’s planning committee approved plans drawn up by New Vision Homes, at the end of July to demolish 576 homes which will be replaced in phases, by 922 new residences plus leisure, community, retail, sport and health facilities. The controversial plans are still opposed by many who will have to make way for the regeneration, may

Bolloré Logistics takes 80,000 sq ft at Heathrow

An 80,000 sq ft warehouse building at Heathrow has been let to Bolloré Logistics. Airport Property Partnership (APP), a joint venture between Segro and Aviva Investors, are close to completing the building, one of two on a prime site next to the airport’s cargo terminal, known as Skyline Heathrow. The global logistics giant, formerly known as SDV, has over 10,000 employees in 102 locations and increasing its presence at the UK’s only hub airport is seen as key. The firm already uses two Segro

Newbury FC could be demoted over ground lease wrangle

The row between Newbury FC and West Berkshire Council over the club’s Faraday Road ground has led to a threat that the club could be demoted. The council has offered the club a two-year extension to its lease but the club rejected the deal saying there was a clause allowing eviction with just six months’ notice. The council however, insists no such clause exists. But now the Thames Valley Premier League has told the club it cannot stay at Faraday Road without a lease. League president Mark