Guildford News
The latest Guildford news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Guildford Food Hygiene Ratings: Three Venues Rated 1
Three Guildford food businesses were rated 1 out of 5 in August, results that reached the register weeks later. All 39 September ratings so far are 5s.
More stories
Planning
Effingham 600 Homes: No New School, Council Sets EIA Tests
Berkeley's 600-home plan for Lower Road, Effingham drops the new Howard of Effingham School. The council says school places must be tested across its catchment.
Business
Cornish Bakery Guildford: Shop Signs Approved for November
Cornish Bakery's signs for 84-86 High Street, the former Russell & Bromley shop, were approved on 28 September. The bakery says it opens in November.
Council
Guildford Council: 10 Targets Late, Homes Contract Axed
Tenders over budget sank the building contract for four small council-home sites. Guildford Park Road and Weyside are late too, the council's own report shows.
Planning
Hester's Yard, Wood Street: 50 Homes Back After 2024 Refusal
Officers back 50 homes, half affordable, and a parish office at Hester's Yard on Thursday. An inspector threw out the same scheme in 2024; grey belt changed that.
Health
Windlesham Doctor Given Last Rites at 25 Tells His Story
Dr John Murphy was given the last rites after a 1984 crash. He became an NHS psychiatrist for 22 years, and his book Mending My Brain tells how.
Planning
Ash Neighbourhood Plan Referendum: Vote on 29 October
Ash votes on 29 October on a plan protecting 33 green spaces and a gap between Ash and Ash Green. Register by 13 October. Every deadline, and what is in it.
History
Guildford WW1 Officer Frank Fleming Named on His Grave
Guildford-born 2nd Lt Frank Fleming, missing since April 1918, now has his name on his grave in Belgium, 108 years on. How a member of the public found him.
Arts
Electric Theatre Guildford: New Operator Bids Close 30 Oct
Bids to run the Electric Theatre, shut since August 2025, close at midday on 30 October. The council is also testing a purely commercial use for the building.
Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills Extension: The Mount and Wanborough Go In
The Mount's downland, Wanborough and East Clandon are in the final Surrey Hills extension order, now with ministers. Blackwell Farm and Shalford are out.
Health
Birthrights Day on 26 Sept: Film by Guildford's Amie Hill
The first Birthrights Day is Saturday 26 September. Guildford film-maker Amie Hill gave her time to the charity's short film on rights in maternity care.
Business
Guildford House of Fraser Sold: Records Date Deal to June
Moretons Investments owned the empty House of Fraser by 25 June, Companies House shows. It is the Brighton firm's third Guildford High Street buy since 2024.
Council
Guildford Parish Council Approved: £69 a Year at Band D
Guildford town gets its own parish council from 1 April 2027, with 24 seats, a £1.98m budget and about £69 a year at Band D. Elections are in May 2027.
Schools
Guildford Knife Crime Project: 183 Pupils, 6 Schools
At Christ's College, pupils saying they would report a knife rose from 18% to 82%. Guildford Shakespeare Company's eight-week course, and what it cost.
Business
Guildford Print Finishers in Liquidation After 20 Years
The Merrow Lane firm went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 10 September. It employed eight, and its accounts are 18 months overdue.
Business
Seafare Guildford Named in UK's Top 40 Fish and Chip Shops
Seafare on Worplesdon Road is one of 40 UK takeaways longlisted for Takeaway of the Year. Only 20 reach the semi-finals, with the winner named on 24 February.
Planning
Clandon Park Hinemihi: Carvings to Return to New Zealand
The National Trust wants to send Hinemihi's 1880 carvings home to New Zealand and build a replacement meeting house at Clandon. Comments close on 16 October.
Council
Guildford Wins Eighth RSPCA Platinum for Animal Licensing
Guildford's licensing team took Platinum at the RSPCA PawPrints Awards 2026, an eighth year running. Here are the 11 activities that need a licence.
Planning
Guildford Green Belt: 92% Now Classed as Grey Belt
A re-issued council study classes 92% of Guildford's Green Belt as grey belt, 551 of 575 areas, after the August NPPF dropped the flood and SSSI carve-out.
House prices
Guildford House Prices Up £6,748 in a Month to £532,917
Guildford's average home reached £532,917 in July, up £6,748 on June and the dearest since November. The annual fall narrowed from 5.2% to 2.2%. Surrey ranked.
Weyside
Guildford Weyside Depot Done; Finances 'Likely to Worsen'
Guildford marked its new Weyside depot on 17 September. Its own panel says the scheme's finances are likely to worsen and could hit West Surrey's budget.
Planning
Guildford Lido Padel Courts Plan: Decision Now Overdue
Two covered padel courts would replace Guildford Lido's old Burrito Loco cafe. The council's decision target of 8 September has passed with no ruling yet.
Jobs
Guildford Claimant Count Nears a 2-Year High at 1,965
Guildford's claimant count rose to 1,965 in August, within 20 of March's two-year peak. Under-25s and over-50s are up; the 25 to 49 group keeps falling.
East Clandon
Joshua Farris and Max Redding: East Clandon Crash Tributes
Joshua Farris and Max Redding, both 19, died in the Epsom Road collision on 21 August. Their families have paid tribute, and the witness appeal is open.
Licensing
Popeyes Plans 1am Opening and 5am Deliveries in Guildford
Popeyes has applied to open 35 North Street from 7am to 1am daily, with hot food deliveries until 5am. Comments to Guildford's licensing team close 6 October.
Planning
Guildford Planning Committee Cut to 13 as Call-In Ends
From 31 October councillors lose call-in of small planning applications, and the committee shrinks from 15 to 13. The changes went to Full Council on 15 September.
Planning
Guildford McDonald's Wants 24/7 Deliveries After Refusal
The Friary Street McDonald's has applied to send out deliveries 24 hours a day, six weeks after the council refused a full 24-hour bid. Comments close 3 October.
Council
West Surrey Council Names Susan Halliwell Chief Executive
Bracknell Forest chief Susan Halliwell will lead the council replacing Guildford Borough Council from April 2027. Her appointment was confirmed on 10 September.
Health
Guildford Air Quality Alerts: Free airTEXT Sign-Up Live
Guildford Borough Council has joined airTEXT to send free warnings by text, email or voicemail when poor air quality is forecast, plus pollen and UV forecasts.
What's On
Heritage Open Days Guildford: Free Tours 11 to 20 September
Free tours and open days at Guildford Castle, the Guildhall, Wanborough Great Barn and the Yvonne Arnaud, 11 to 20 September. What is on, and on which days.
Council
West Surrey Council: Guildford's April 2027 switch stands
Ministers have paused council mergers across England, but Guildford's switch to West Surrey Council on 1 April 2027 is 'established in law' and going ahead.
Housing
Warbler Park Normandy: 40% Shares From £166,000
Three shared ownership homes at Warbler Park, Beech Lane are on sale from £166,000 for a 40% share. Buyers with a Normandy-area connection get priority.
What's On
North Downs Mountain Festival: Shalford Park, June 2027
Kendal Mountain Festival's first sister event comes to Shalford Park, Guildford on 11 to 13 June 2027, targeting 25,000 visitors over three days.
Planning
Eashing Lane 234 Homes: Councils Drop Green Belt Defence
Guildford and Waverley will not defend their refusals of the 234-home Eashing Lane scheme when the Secretary of State's inquiry opens on 6 October.
Planning
Guildford Local Plan Consultation Open: Reply by 14 Oct
The first consultation on Guildford's new Local Plan is open until 11.59pm on 14 October. It asks 21 questions about what the plan to 2045 should contain.
Community
Guildford Bereavement Cafe: Free Monthly Drop-In Begins
A free monthly Bereavement Cafe has opened at New Hope Church in Bellfields, first Thursday of each month, 10.30am to 12pm. No booking needed; next one 1 October.
Food hygiene
Guildford Food Hygiene: August Results, 3 Venues Rated 1
Guildford's August food hygiene results in full: 56 of 75 inspections rated 5, and three venues rated 1 once the lower ratings reached the register.
Housing
Westborough and Park Barn: Team Picked, 11 More Demolitions
Levitt Bernstein will lead phase one of Guildford's Better Homes Programme, covering 600 to 1,000 homes. Eleven more unsafe properties face demolition.
What's On
Guildford Walkfest 2026: 40+ Free Walks, 1 to 30 September
Guildford Walkfest returns 1 to 30 September with more than 40 free walks, from an Alan Turing town trail to an 11-mile North Downs circuit. Some need booking.
Planning
Foxenden Quarry: WW2 Bunker Under Playground to Be Filled
Guildford approved plans on 26 August to fill the failed WW2 shelter under Foxenden Quarry Playground with stone. Part of the playground closes during the work.
Planning
Shortlands Farm Ash: 200-Home Appeal Inquiry Opens 15 Sept
A planning inspector hears Gleeson's appeal for up to 200 homes on Shortlands Farm, Ash, over eight days from 15 September. Councillors voted 13-0 that they would have refused it.
What's On
Guildford Fringe 2026: 55 Shows From 4 Sept, Three Free
Guildford Fringe Festival 2026 ran 4 to 19 September across 12 venues, 55 shows, most at £12 and three free. No 2027 dates have been announced yet.
Planning
York Road Shelter Approved: 22 Places From Spring 2027
Guildford's Planning Committee approved the refurbishment and expansion of The Number 5 Hub on York Road on 26 August. Work starts in spring 2027 and takes about a year.
Planning
Larian Guildford: 1 Farnham Road Studio, Comment by 29 Aug
Baldur's Gate 3 maker Larian wants to turn the empty office at 1 Farnham Road into a 4,346 sq m studio for over 220 staff. Comments close Saturday 29 August; decision due 24 September.
Burpham
Burpham Post Office Closed: Nearest Counters Now 1 Mile Away
Burpham Post Office shut on Saturday 22 August with the Morrisons Daily it sat inside. Boxgrove and Merrow are the nearest counters; the Post Office says a replacement is not guaranteed.
Council
Guildford Bin Lorries: £24m Fleet Plan Replaces 161 Vehicles
Guildford council will replace 161 vehicles by 2029, including 39 bin lorries, at a cost of about £24m. Most bin lorries stay diesel: an electric one costs £200,000 more. What was approved on 20 August.
Planning
York Road Shelter Guildford: 22-Place Plan Voted Wednesday
Guildford's homeless shelter would grow from 16 to 22 places under plans decided Wednesday 26 August, alongside filling a WWII bunker under a town playground.
Trains
Guildford Bank Holiday Trains: Buses on Two London Routes
Lines through Effingham Junction close 29 and 30 August, hitting both of Guildford's slower London routes; Guildford to Farnham trains stop at Aldershot.
Planning
Guildford Local Plan: Six-Week Consultation Opens September
The first public say on the plan that decides where Guildford builds 1,151 homes a year opens in early September for six weeks. What the council asks, how to respond.
House prices
Guildford House Prices 2026: Down £31,295 to £523,974
The borough average fell £31,295 to £523,974 in the year to June, the ninth steepest drop of 295 English districts. Prices by type, and Surrey compared.
Banks
Halifax Guildford Closes 24 September, No Banking Hub
The High Street branch shuts on 24 September and LINK has ruled no replacement cash services are needed. What closes, what stays, where to bank.
Jobs
Guildford Claimant Count: Under-25s Up a Third in 2 Years
Guildford's claimant count hit 1,965 in July. All of the rise is young people: 400 under-25s now, against 300 two years ago, while the 25-49 group fell.
North Street
Guildford North Street Pedestrianised From Autumn 2026
North Street is pedestrianised between Leapale Road and Commercial Road from autumn 2026, Commercial Road is reconfigured, and bus station work starts January 2027.
Licensing
Guildford Alcohol Licence Bids: Comment by 2 September
Three Guildford premises have applied to sell alcohol: a hair salon, a High Street vape shop and a Southway store. The hours applied for, and the comment deadlines.
Libraries
Guildford Library Closes 20 Aug to 21 Sept: What Moves Where
Guildford Library shuts on Thursday 20 August, reopening for click and collect on 21 September, as the register office prepares to move in and Artington House closes on 1 November.
Business
FG Barnes Guildford Sold to Sandown: New Vauxhall Sales End
FG Barnes, the Slyfield car dealer with a 125-year history, was sold to Sandown Motors on 31 July. Staff and site stay, a Chery franchise opens, new Vauxhall sales stop.
Schools
Guildford A Level Results 2026: Figures School by School
Guildford High awarded 52% of grades at A*, George Abbot 29% at A or above, RGS 33% at A*. Every 2026 figure Guildford's sixth forms have published.
Trains
Guildford trains diverted around Woking until Friday
Portsmouth to Waterloo trains skip Woking after Guildford from 10am to 6pm until Friday 14 August. Change at Guildford for Woking, with 38C possible Thursday.
Planning
Guildford Green Belt: 120 areas classed as grey belt
AECOM's study classes 120 of Guildford's 575 Green Belt areas as grey belt and 307 provisionally, and a rule change due this autumn could take it to 551.
Weather
Guildford bins go out at 6am as heat builds to 34C
Guildford's bin crews start at 6am for the rest of the week, so put bins out the night before. Heat peaks at 34C Thursday, and the hosepipe ban stays.
Business
Nordic Style Guildford: Tunsgate shop company in liquidation
The firm behind Nordic Style's Tunsgate Quarter showroom entered liquidation on 15 July; its director plans to carry on the business as Country Estates Interiors.
Council
The council replacing Guildford borough votes to rename itself 'West Surrey and South Middlesex' before it even launches
The West Surrey Shadow Authority, which takes over from Guildford Borough Council in April 2027, has asked the government to rename it West Surrey and South Middlesex Council, and confirmed new checks on its £4bn inherited debt.