Call for Sites
Call for Sites
Every year, the Council accepts information on sites to inform its annual update of the Guildford Land Availability Assessment. This year, we have launched a more formal Call for Sites which will run for 13 weeks from 14 March 2025.
What is a Call for Sites?
The Call for Sites is an opportunity for landowners, site promoters, those with development interests, and communities to suggest possible sites to the Council that may be suitable for development.
After submission, we will assess each site's suitability, availability, and achievability. A summary of these assessments and the process followed will be published in the Land Availability Assessment (LAA).
The LAA will provide information on which sites might be considered suitable and available for new development in the borough. It will also provide one source of information to help inform potential site options to be included in future draft Local Plan consultations. However, the Call for Sites is just one of many ways we gather information for this process.
Why are we completing a Call for Sites?
Every year, we accept information on sites to inform our annual update of the Guildford Land Availability Assessment.
This year, we've launched a formal Call for Sites as part of the evidence gathering process for our new Local Plan. The Local Plan will set out a vision and strategic framework for the future development of Guildford over the next 15 years. The Call for Sites will help us to identify potentially suitable and available land, for a range of possible uses.
The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to maintain an up-to-date evidence base of potentially available land.
When is the Call for Sites?
The Call for Sites will run for 13 weeks from Friday 14 March 2025. The deadline for submissions is Friday 13 June 2025.
What types of developments will be considered by the Council?
Proposals for all types of housing and economic development will be assessed. This covers a broad range of development types and planning use classes, and could include, but is not limited to:
- Housing (for example market, affordable, self-build and specialist accommodation needs)
- Sites with potential for Gypsies and Traveller pitches or Travelling Showpeople plots
- Commercial (including employment use such as offices, warehousing, logistics, and data centres, plus retail and leisure)
- Renewable energy generation (sites for solar, wind and community-led renewable energy initiatives)
- Public open space, including sports pitches
- Habitat mitigation land, known as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).
Where and what sort of sites are we looking for?
The Call for Sites is not restricted to a particular location. It can be anywhere within the borough and can straddle the borough boundary. We are particularly interested to hear about potential opportunities for the re-use or redevelopment of previously developed land.
We cannot assume that any sites submitted to us are still available for development. Therefore, if you have previously submitted a site through an earlier Call for Sites consultation and it has yet to be permitted or developed for the proposed use, please provide updated details on the availability and suitability of the site by completing our form.
To be included in the LAA, a site must be capable of delivering five or more dwellings, or for economic development a site must be at least 0.25 hectares or able to provide 500 square metres of floor space. There is no threshold for land that has potential for Gypsy and Traveller pitches or Travelling Showpeople plots.
How do I submit a site?
To make a submission, complete our online form. Please complete a separate form for each site. You must also provide a location map that clearly identifies the site boundary.
Alternatively, you can submit a Microsoft Word form to us by:
- emailing planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk
- writing to: Planning Policy, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB.
Please complete the form fully and accurately - the information provided will be used in appraising the suitability and deliverability of the site and may inform subsequent site allocations. It is not necessary to provide commercially sensitive information, but please provide as much detail as possible.
If relevant, sites submitted to the Council will be considered for inclusion on the Guildford Brownfield Land Register.
Please do not send in details of sites outside of the Guildford borough boundary.
Please be aware that any information you submit will be made publicly available. For more detail please view our Privacy Notice.
If you are in doubt about whether to submit a site or if you have any other questions, please contact the Planning Policy Team at planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk.