A Waverley-owned redevelopment scheme which will bring new life into Godalming High Street has been given the thumbs-up.
Waverley’s Planning Committee voted unanimously to initiate the complete redevelopment of 69 High Street. A site it fought hard to purchase against strong opposition from the Tory group.
The former M&Co store has been empty and abandoned for some time, but now Loungers PLC says it will transform the premises. It has already removed large amounts of asbestos and is beginning the transformation.
Alistair Close told members that the venue would be a place to enjoy a coffee, lunch, or a drink after work. It will embrace the community groups such as reading and young mums and provide 13 jobs.
The provision of heat source pumps and solar panels will reduce CO2 emissions by 48%, and the building’s design fits well in the town conservation area.
Conservative Cllr for Drnham Carole Cochurn congratulated planning officers for producing a report that answered her concerns, including positioning solar panels out of sight.
The shop front in the conse andvation area certainly raises the bar and I wish the business every success.”
Cllr John Robiini said the redevelopment would attract both visitors and residents when the new “affordable homes,” which he would prefer to be called “social housing,” were built at the back of the site.
It was a further example of high street regeneration, said Cllr Peter Clark. Who commented that its opening in 15 months would beat many similar Farnham venues, which have taken many years.
Before…
Waverley Borough Council bought the site at 69 Godalming High Street.
Godalming will soon boast Loungers PLC, a bar-café serving brunch, tapas, burgers, and curry.
The Lounge serves late-night refreshments with outside seating between 11 pm and 12.30 am seven days a week.
The Administration of Waverley Borough Council has frequently expressed its frustration with aspects of Godalming High Street. Together with Chambers of Commerce/Trade in the major towns, it is doing everything it can to help revitalise high streets.
Said Leader Paul Follows:
Councils have limited ability to have a say in what shops are on the high street. The willingness of some private landlords to put short-term profit ahead of the town (often leading to gaps on the high street) reduces local employment and the local economy generally because of those gaps (sometimes made permanent via central government planning policy that allows residential conversion). This has an overall impact on the attractiveness and ‘pull’ of the town.
You didn’t elect me to sit on the sidelines, and I believe positive intervention is needed. That is why Waverley BC acquired this site to;
- Strengthen our local economy and employment,
- protect our high streets from slow decline,
- act as a reasonable and sustainable landlord,
- foster a stable business tenancy that contributes to the town…whilst also providing a source of revenue to the council.
Central government cuts have forced councils to invest, often at a ridiculous scale and often outside of their boroughs. I am keen to invest in Waverley inwardly whenever possible, and I hope this will not be the last such intervention.
“You didn’t elect me to sit on the sidelines, and I believe positive intervention is needed. That is why Waverley BC acquired this site to;
– Strengthen our local economy and employment,
– protect our high streets from slow decline,
– act as a reasonable and sustainable landlord,
– foster a stable business tenancy that contributes to the town…whilst also providing a source of revenue to the
council.”
What utter tosh!
Waverley Web, Please can you spider your way to getting any financial assessment out of Waverley BC on their projection of the total cash invested at 69 Hugh St and their expected annual rents to be received.
Any private property developer will use their expertise and would do proper assessments before making an investment decision and will gain or lose money on the transaction which is why such developments are best left to them and not done by Waverley BC.
Woking and Guildford Councils are examples where ratepayers have lost money by bad property investments. WBC, please learn from them and others and NOT to invest in speculative properties.