Weyside Urban Village has won the 'Best use of publicly owned land and, or property placemaking' category in the Planning Awards 2023
The award recognises our approach to free up previously developed land for new homes and community facilities.
By working with other landowners we have freed up more than 30 hectares of brownfield land. This is equal to 21 and half football pitches. Using land in this way is more sustainable and socially responsible.
Existing water and waste infrastructure facilities will move to new sites. A new sewage treatment works, and waste depot will be built, bringing new modern facilities to Guildford. These will be more efficient and contribute to our action on climate change.
The land freed up will be used to build 1,550 high-quality new homes. Up to a third of the site will provide new green spaces for recreation, wellbeing, and healthier lifestyles. 1,200 new trees will contribute to an expected net gain in biodiversity of 20%.
Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Cllr Tom Hunt said:
"We're thrilled to have won this award. We beat strong competition from three other excellent projects. Our ability to work in partnership on such a complex project has been instrumental in driving the development forward.
"Weyside Urban Village makes great use of public land, balancing the need for new housing and the protection of the natural environment.
"WUV will make a significant contribution towards meeting our borough’s housing needs. There will be a good mix of properties that will support and encourage low-carbon living. We'll be prioritising affordable housing in the first phase of development."
Editor's Notes:
Infrastructure changes taking place:
- Thames Water will move its Sewage Treatment Works to a former landfill site.
- Surrey County Council will move its Recycling Centre and introduce an improved waste transfer station.
- Some allotment holders at Bellfields allotments have already relocated to new sites in the borough.
- A new council Depot has received planning permission.
- Investment will go into a new Sustainable Movement Corridor that prioritises active travel with car-free walking and cycling routes.
community drop-in on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at St Peter’s Shared Church, Guildford, from 4pm to 7pm. Latest regeneration updates.
Work begins to transform two major junctions on A320 Woking Road Work to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety at the Woodlands Road and Moorfield Road junctions on Woking Road will begin on Wednesday 25 February 2026. These highways improvements are part of the wider Weyside Urban Village regeneration programme. Both junctions are being upgraded at the same time so the new traffic signals can operate together. This approach will help reduce exit blocking, ease congestion and improve journey reliability along this section of Woking Road. Woodlands Road junction improvements At the Woodlands Road junction on Woking Road, the existing roundabout will be replaced with a signal-controlled four-way junction. Co-ordinating this with the nearby Moorfield Road junction will help manage traffic more effectively and reduce delays, especially at busy times. Moorfield Road junction improvements At the Moorfield Road junction on Woking Road, a series of upgrades will increase capacity and improve traffic flow. A new northbound lane towards Woking will be added and the existing northbound lane will be converted to another southbound lane. Providing two southbound lanes approaching the junction will help to reduce congestion and make it easier for drivers to turn into the Slyfield Industrial Estate. A new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing will also be installed, alongside upgraded footways to improve safety and provide better connections with existing walking and cycling routes. Traffic management measures The scheme will be delivered in phases, starting with the removal of the Woodlands Road roundabout. This work will take place at night from Tuesday 2 March for around six weeks. A lane closure will be in place overnight for safety and lifted each morning to minimise disruption to daytime traffic. Councillor Vanessa King, Lead Councillor for Economy and Place said: “These improvements are another vital step in preparing the local road network for the Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme. The new layouts will future‑proof the network for new homes and community facilities, while also helping to manage current traffic more effectively. Being committed to becoming a more environmentally responsible borough, we’re also placing strong emphasis on creating safer, more accessible routes for pedestrians and cyclists. “The Slyfield Industrial Estate is a major economic and commercial hub for Guildford, so improving access is essential for supporting local businesses. By delivering the works in carefully planned phases and managing traffic thoughtfully, we can keep the programme running safely while minimising disruption for residents, businesses and commuters. “This project is ultimately about preparing the area for the exciting transformation ahead and ensuring that the right access is in place as new homes, infrastructure and facilities come forward.”
Our new depot, part of the wider Weyside Urban Village regeneration, is progressing well. Construction will be completed in July ahead of staff moving in later this year. The modern facility will provide essential infrastructure to support our operational services to run more efficiently and sustainably. Moving the depot to a new location will also free up the existing site to develop much-needed housing as part of the Weyside Urban Village scheme. The new depot site includes three main buildings: Depot building: a three-storey hub for operational teams, featuring offices, training rooms, meeting spaces, and welfare facilities. It will provide storage facilities, including a secure museum store. A fully equipped vehicle workshop will accommodate heavy goods vehicles. Multi-storey car park: located to the north of the site, the car park will be used for service vehicles, staff and visitors. It will include electric vehicle (EV) charging points and infrastructure for future EV expansion. Storage building: dedicated secure storage for grit and salt to support winter operations, alongside general storage and specialist equipment rooms are being provided. Significant progress has been made across all areas, with structural works complete on the car park and storage building. Infrastructure to support future fleet electrification, including refuse vehicles and gritters, has been installed, alongside fuel and vehicle wash facilities. Internal fit-out is now underway. External fencing and landscaping works are scheduled to begin soon. Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of Guildford Borough Council, said: "This investment will free up land for much-needed housing in our borough. It has given us an opportunity to design and build a new depot that will enable us to deliver essential services more efficiently and reduce environmental impact. This supports our commitment to becoming a more sustainable borough." Patrick Murphy, Divisional Director at McLaren Construction, commented: "The new depot is taking shape nicely and is on course for completion in the summer. You can already get a sense of how big a team and how many of the council's services can be accommodated together here." "Some of the features that make this a step change in facilities are already in place, such as charging infrastructure for a future fleet of council vehicles. The site's capabilities will really come to life as we connect water and electricity supplies over the next few months." "It's been a real pleasure to get to know new colleagues from the Guildford area as they have taken their first steps in construction industry careers. We hope they will be proud of the work they have done on the depot and will use their skills for many years to come.