New Waitrose coming to Guildford alongside new homes and community facilities

By MaxRaymond | Monday, September 19, 2011, 16:22

The former site of the Bellerby Theatre will be replaced by a new supermarket as Waitrose have won the rights to take over and build a new store.

You may soon see a Waitrose in Guildford (photo credit: Mark Hillary - http://bit.ly/phD3sr)

The demolition of two buildings last week has commenced the redevelopment work.

The proposals will also see new homes built as well as community facilities and a planning application is expected to be submitted early next year. An extensive consultation with people in the area will also take place.

The area that is being redeveloped by the company, which in total is one hectare, includes the theatre, which is not currently being used, North Place Day Centre, the Guildford Community Centre, the public car park, and land behind the Live and Let Live pub.

Any occupants in the buildings being demolished – Victoria Place and North Place Day Centre – have been relocated elsewhere in Guildford.

Guildford Borough Council have also said that the footpath between York Road and Haydon Place will be closed during the construction period.

What do you think? Is this news you welcome? Does Guildford need another supermarket? Are you, like a few followers who contacted Guildford People on Twitter today, concerned about parking/car access? Let us know your thoughts with a comment.

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Comments

I'm intrigued by this decision, not least because of the potential traffic access nightmare this will create: anyone who uses the roads in the immediate area during rush-hours will know that traffic log-jams are part of Guildford life.

But what really intrigues me is that the Council appear to be demolishing what appears to be perfectly serviceable housing, complete with convenient community centre, and replacing it with, er, more housing, and a community centre! Oh and a supermarket.: after all, it's not as if we have many other supermarkets in the town is it?

And can the Council tell us what type of housing this will be? Affordable, so that some of the increasing number of homeless people in Guildford can get on the housing ladder, or another homage to Yuppydom ? Bearing in mind it'll be next to a Waitrose I think we all know the answer!

By MHMedia at 09:57 on 20/09/11
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