Woking’s 24-Storey Tower Plan Sparks Community Debate
A Tower That Could Transform Woking’s Skyline
Woking residents are grappling with ambitious plans that could reshape their town centre. Developers Newco Ltd have proposed a striking ‘double tower’ development on Chobham Road, just off Jubilee Square—a site that currently houses Victorian terraces and the office building known as Cleary Court. The proposal includes two connected towers: one reaching 24 storeys and another at 16 storeys, standing approximately 110 metres tall. This would make it one of Surrey’s tallest residential structures. The development promises nearly 600 homes, predominantly studio apartments and co-living units aimed at young professionals and newly forming households, with ground-floor commercial and community amenity spaces. While Woking’s town centre already features high-rise buildings clustered around Victoria Square, this new proposal marks a significant shift. The scale and prominence of the towers on this particular location—closer to the residential Wheatsheaf Conservation Area and the town’s northern edge—has sparked genuine concerns about visual impact and neighbourhood character among local residents who’ve submitted objections to the planning portal.
What Residents Are Saying—And Why They’re Worried
Community members have expressed serious reservations about the scheme’s proportions and placement. Many describe the towers as ‘incongruous’ and ‘out of scale’ with surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly given their proximity to the two-storey Victorian properties and the cherished Wheatsheaf Conservation Area. One resident noted that while they support housing development and town centre regeneration, the current design is problematic because the taller 24-storey tower is positioned closer to the conservation area rather than further south, maximising visual impact on lower-rise residential streets. Local homeowners and businesses worry about overshadowing, loss of character, and the precedent this sets for future developments. The ‘car-free’ approach, while environmentally sound and justified by Woking’s good public transport links, raises questions about where residents and visitors will park. Additionally, residents note the absence of affordable housing provisions, despite Woking’s housing policies requiring such contributions. The developers argue their co-living units serve younger residents with fewer resources, but this argument hasn’t convinced everyone in the community who feel the development prioritises profit over genuine affordability and community integration.
What Happens Next—And What You Should Know
This planning application arrives amid accelerating change in Woking’s town centre, following similar large-scale approvals at the former Big Apple entertainment centre and British Heart Foundation sites on Church Street East and Chobham Road respectively. The council approved an earlier 11-storey proposal for this land, but the new ‘double tower’ plan significantly exceeds that scale. Community members should engage with Woking Borough Council’s Planning Portal to stay informed and submit their own representations before decisions are finalised. Residents concerned about preserving neighbourhood character should document their views professionally and submit them through official channels. As this development moves forward, homeowners and businesses in surrounding areas may find renovation work increasingly valuable—whether that’s bathroom refurbishment, kitchen renovation, or other improvements to enhance property appeal amid changing streetscapes. Local organisations and conservation groups focused on heritage preservation should continue advocating for sensitive design solutions. The coming months will be crucial as the council weighs housing needs against community concerns. Whether this ‘double tower’ transforms Woking positively or becomes a cautionary tale about scale-appropriate development remains a community decision point that deserves everyone’s attention and participation.
Source: Fears that high-rise tower block plan would ‘dominate’ Surrey town
