Affordable homes approved for Guildford green belt

The 25 properties will all be affordable, according to the developer

Plans to build 25 new homes on greenbelt land in Surrey have been approved.

The affordable properties will be built on the former Highlands Nurseries site in Portsmouth Road, Ripley, Guildford, and were approved by the borough council’s planning committee on 22 May.

The proposal was approved despite no letters of support but almost 50 objecting, raising concerns the development would have “an urbanising effect” and was out of character with the surroundings.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, officers recommended the development was acceptable because it would be 100% affordable housing.

The plan has been approved to meet housing needs in Ripley

Affordable rents are set at up to 80% of open market rents, providing opportunities for those who would struggle to rent or buy a property and, unlike social housing, these properties are not council-owned.

Each home would be provided with a private garden space, with the exception of first floor flats.

A separate public central green space with a play area is also planned for the back of the site.

Officers pointed out the approval of the application was based on supporting the local need in Ripley rather than the Guildford borough as a whole.

Around 1,910 households were on the waiting list for a property in the council's latest report.

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