Kier JV plans £150m Guildford station development

The planning application has been submitted by Solum Regeneration, a joint venture between Network Rail and Kier Property. It is the seventh project to be promoted by Solum since it was established in 2008 to bring private investment into the rail network.

The Guildford scheme includes a new £25m station building and a development of 445 new homes and commercial office space, as well as more retail and restaurant units.

Network Rail Property director of development Stuart Kirkwood said: “This innovative plan for the redevelopment of Guildford station will give passengers better access, improved station facilities and better links with the rest of the town centre. It will ensure that the station has the capacity to cater for increased passenger numbers over the coming decades.

“Network Rail is investing billions to upgrade the railway over the next five years and this project is a great example of how the railway industry can work with other partners to bring benefits to everyone.  The station upgrade is fully funded by commercial development; the new facilities will therefore be provided for rail passengers at no cost to the tax or fare payer"

Solum Regeneration has completed projects at Christchurch, Epsom and Walthamstow, while work is due to start shortly at Redhill and Haywards Heath and at Twickenham after the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Solum development director Peter Hughes added: “Guildford will be our biggest regeneration project yet. Our proposals will regenerate an unsightly and underused brownfield site in the town centre and provide a modern, attractive station.”

The 2.2 hectare site has long been identified in the local council’s planning policies for mixed-use development to include commercial and residential uses.

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