Guildford industrial estate plans resurrected after developer appeal
Why the Burnt Common Nurseries Plans Are Back in the Spotlight
If you drive along London Road between Send and Ripley, you will know how quickly the traffic can build up at busy times. That is why a planning application for a sizeable industrial site at the eastern end of Burnt Common Nurseries has caught the attention of so many people living around Guildford. The proposal covers eight commercial units, with parking and supporting infrastructure, providing around 7,300 square metres of floorspace for light industrial use and research and development.
In March, Guildford Borough Council turned the scheme down. Its main concern was the effect on the local road network, especially the B2215 through Ripley, which the council described as unsuitable for the volume of cars and heavy goods vehicles the development would bring. More than 100 objections from members of the public helped shape that decision.
The developers have now lodged an appeal, and the case will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate, an independent body that can overturn a council refusal. This means the scheme is not dead. For residents of Send, Ripley and the surrounding lanes, it is a reminder that local planning decisions can return long after people thought the matter was settled, so it is worth keeping an eye on the paperwork.
Traffic Numbers, Disputed Evidence and the Road Debate
The figures at the heart of this dispute are worth understanding. The developers forecast between 38 and 82 two-way vehicle movements around the village during peak periods, including six HGV movements in the morning and one in the afternoon. Across a typical day, the site could generate around 899 two-way vehicle movements, of which 55 would be lorries.
For many residents, those numbers are not abstract. One person who commented during the original consultation described the existing HGV situation as already terrifying, and that concern is shared by households who live close to the B2215 and the Send Road signals. Narrow stretches, parked vehicles and school run traffic already make some journeys stressful.
The developers argue the picture is different from what locals experience. Their transport report points to a recent traffic survey showing fewer vehicles around Burnt Common Roundabout and the Send Road signals than when the roads were last counted in 2014. They suggest that completed works at M25 Junction 10 may have encouraged drivers to use the motorway and the A3 rather than cutting through Ripley and Send, which they say shows there is spare capacity on the network. Whether residents accept that reasoning is exactly what the inspector will weigh up.
What Residents Can Do Before the Deadline on 13 November
The most important date for local people is 13 November. Comments on the appeal must be submitted by then, and a hearing will follow. Anyone with a view, whether they support the scheme, oppose it, or simply want better road safety, can contribute, and the Planning Inspectorate considers evidence from members of the public alongside the professional reports.
If you plan to respond, focus on specifics. Describe how traffic behaves at your junction, at school pick-up times or on the stretch past your home. Photographs, dates and times can carry more weight than general objections. It is also worth reading the highways improvements the developers have proposed for the B2215 London Road, which include new speed limits, signage and a cycling route, and deciding whether you think they would make a real difference.
The outcome may also matter to local tradespeople. A development of this size would bring construction and fit-out work to the area, and local firms, from builders to bathroom fitters and kitchen renovation specialists, could find new opportunities if the site goes ahead. Keep watching the planning register and local news for updates on the hearing date, and remember that the decision will shape traffic on our roads for years to come.
Source: Plans for large Guildford industrial estate could be resurrected
