Guildford’s Park Barn & Westborough: Have Your Say on Homes
A Guildford neighbourhood at a turning point
If you drive past the Park Barn and Westborough estates on a wet morning, you will notice the hillside setting, the mix of streets and the sense that these neighbourhoods have been part of Guildford for a very long time. Around one thousand homes make up the area, and many were built by the council almost a century ago. Those years have taken their toll. Some residents have described feeling their homes slipping down the slope, and a number of properties are in such poor condition that they are being demolished.
That is why the Better Homes Programme matters so much here. It began in March with a clear aim: to upgrade housing across Park Barn and Westborough. So far, several council-owned homes have been knocked down, and more are expected to follow. For people who live on these streets, the programme is not an abstract plan. It affects which homes stay, which go, and what the streetscape will look like for the next generation.
The council has been clear that no final decision has been made about the neighbourhood’s future. What is on the table is a conversation about what residents value, what they find difficult and what they want improved. Anyone who knows these streets will understand why that matters. The area has a strong community character, and residents know its strengths and its problems far better than any planning document does.
Who is involved and how it affects them
Guildford Borough Council is leading the programme, with Cllr Julia McShane, the council leader and lead councillor for housing, setting out the approach. She has stressed that residents are the experts in their own communities and that their experiences will shape any options explored. The council’s project team will be the main point of contact for people who want to ask detailed questions about timelines, demolition plans or the process for future homes.
For the households living in these homes, the stakes are personal. Many residents have spent years waiting for repairs, and some have already had to move out. Others are weighing up whether to invest their own money in improvements. Anyone thinking about a bathroom refurbishment or kitchen renovation in the coming months should take care before committing funds. Hiring bathroom fitters or a kitchen renovation firm makes sense for a home that is staying put, but where a property might be demolished or redeveloped, it is worth checking with the council first.
A community panel of up to 15 local people is also planned. Its members will be drawn from different ages, backgrounds and life experiences, so that the final vision reflects the whole neighbourhood rather than a small group of regular meeting-goers. Local businesses, from corner shops to trades people who serve these streets, will feel the effects too, as the pace and scale of change becomes clearer.
What residents can do now
The most immediate step is to complete the online survey at www.guildford.gov.uk/westboroughandparkbarn. It covers the aspects of the area residents most value, the challenges they face and the priorities that should guide future work. Answers are not a formality. The council has said the responses will feed directly into any options that are developed, so it is worth taking the time to describe specific problems, such as damp, access, parking or the condition of shared spaces.
If you prefer to talk face to face, the council is holding an in-person community event on Wednesday 11 November, from 4pm until 8pm, at The Hive community centre on Park Barn Drive. It is a chance to meet the project team, ask questions and share your views in person. Bring your concerns, your ideas and any questions about your own home.
Looking ahead, the community panel is expected to meet four times over the next 12 months. Residents interested in joining should watch for information from the council about how to take part. Over that period, the panel will help shape a shared vision for Westborough and Park Barn. For everyone else, the key thing to watch is the outcome of the consultation and the decisions that follow. Stay informed, speak up and make sure your neighbourhood’s future reflects the people who call it home.
Source: Consultation on future of Guildford neighbourhood where homes are ‘falling down’
