Significant funding to unlock the infrastructure phase of the Weyside Urban Village project in Guildford was approved
Councillors agreed to approve a capital budget of £359.504 million to enable the infrastructure phase of Weyside Urban Village Project to begin.
Cllr Caroline Reeves, Leader of the Council says: "Weyside Urban Village is the most exciting and important infrastructure project in our borough and we are delighted to see it move forward with the approval of this significant council investment. The Weyside Urban Village project will help deliver much-needed housing, community space and employment opportunities for our borough and we look forward to seeing work begin on site in the next year."
Additional funding for the project includes an EM3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) grant of £7.5 million and a £52.3 million grant from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.
Cllr Reeves adds: "As with all such significant investments, we will have a rigorous system of financial checks and balances in place to ensure the council taxpayer receives best value for money throughout this complex and important project."
As part of the Weyside Urban Village project, residents will also benefit from a newly-relocated state-of-the-art sewage treatment works provided by key partner Thames Water.
About the Weyside Urban Village
- It is 41-hectare brownfield regeneration scheme that will deliver 1,500 homes, as well as 2,000 square metres of community space and 6,500 square metres of employment space. The development will help meet the essential need for more housing in the borough, with 40% affordable housing available as part of the new community.
- It will help regenerate this area of Guildford, creating a vibrant new community with a mix of affordable housing with easy access into the town centre along the riverbank.
- Community space where local residents can come together is a key part of the development and we will be consulting local residents for their views about how we can best provide areas that everyone can enjoy.
- The site is a key strategic site in the Guildford Borough Local Plan and will be connected to the town centre and station through the Sustainable Movement Corridor's planned cycle routes and footpaths.
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.