Latest news

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and press releases.

Safety Marshals to help town centre visitors

New Coronavirus (Covid-19) measures, including Safety Marshals, will be introduced to our town centre from Saturday 31 October for four months. Read more >

Mayor of Guildford update

Leader of the Council, Cllr Joss Bigmore says "Thank you for your kind thoughts for our Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Richard Billington over the past few weeks. Read more >

Our Crematorium wins two Guildford Society Design Awards

Our redeveloped Guildford Crematorium has been honoured in two categories at the Guildford Society Design Awards 2020, announced on Monday 5 October. Read more >

Update on disabled parking bays in the town centre

Cllr Julia McShane, Lead Councillor for the Community, says: "After listening to residents', we have now decided to remove all temporary barriers blocking disabled parking spaces on the High Street. Read more >

Save money on energy bills with Green Jump Surrey

Residents can save money on their energy bills with a new 'Green Jump Surrey' grant. Read more >

Looking for a job? We can help

If you're currently unemployed, facing redundancy or looking to get back into work, we can help. Read more >

Guildford awarded most Green Flags in Surrey

Our beautiful parks and green spaces have been awarded nine Green Flags - the most in Surrey. Read more >

Hear more about our plans for Weyside Urban Village: 1,500 homes to be built on brownfield land

We have two more online public exhibitions in October and November which anyone can attend to find out more about our proposed exciting riverside development in Guildford. These follow our successful online events in July and August, where we welcomed over 200 residents, over three-quarters of whom supported our plans. Read more >

Applications now open for £500 Self-Isolation Payment

If you cannot work from home after being told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, currently receive benefits and will lose income whilst self-isolating, you can now apply for a government payment of £500 to help you at this time. Read more >

Interim injunction issued after successful planning enforcement hearing

The High Court has issued us with an interim injunction in relation to a site in Seale where planning control breaches are taking place. Read more >

Working in partnership to stop fly tippers in Ash

Our Joint Enforcement Team (JET) has been working in collaboration with Ash Parish Council to take enforcement action against fly tippers in our borough. Read more >

A new Leader announced

Cllr Joss Bigmore was voted the new Leader of the Council at a meeting of Full Council on Tuesday 6 October. The change of leadership was part of a planned new co-operative approach to running the Council as it moves into the second year since the borough elections in 2019. Read more >

Celebrating Clean Air Day this Thursday

We celebrate Clean Air Day this Thursday, 8 October, with a renewed commitment to improving air quality and reducing air pollution in our beautiful borough. Read more >

Wanborough Fields: enforcement notices issued for planning breaches

The owners of two plots of land at Wanborough Fields have been issued with enforcement and stop notices following a series of planning control breaches. Read more >

Guildford LIVE #3: Silver Sunday, online entertainment for all the family

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company's hugely successful online variety show Guildford LIVE returns for a third instalment on Sunday 4 October at 6.30pm to celebrate Silver Sunday, the national day for older people, with a fantastic evening of music and magic. We are sponsoring the event through our dedicated community programme - Aspire. Read more >

Landlord of unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation prosecuted

A local landlord has been fined for operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without a licence in Guildford. The landlord was found guilty following a prosecution by our Private Sector Housing Officers. Read more >

Our Museum Takes over the Town!

Guildford Museum showcases a unique 'Town Take Over' initiative from Saturday 3 October connecting exciting objects in it's collection with historic locations across the town. Read more >

Video game industry grows and Guildford Games Festival is back

Guildford Games Festival, supported by the UK's games industry trade body UKIE and age ratings advisory body AskAboutGames and sponsored by us and Enterprise M3 LEP, goes global in 2020 as it returns for a second year on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November to mark the industry's continued success in the borough. Read more >

Lottery helps raise £100k for good causes in our borough!

Guildford Community Lottery celebrated a major milestone in its fundraising efforts for local good causes this week - and will give anybody who helps raise even more money by 31 October a chance to win a fantastic family forest staycation. Read more >

Our pawfect animal welfare work rewarded

We have retained our Bronze Animal Activity Licensing Award from the RSPCA PawPrints Awards for the second consecutive year. Read more >

Have your say on Council Tax Support

In 2013, following widespread consultation, we introduced a new Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme. Each year we have reviewed and updated the scheme following your feedback and we are again this year asking for you to have your say. Read more >

Planned change of leadership

Councillor Caroline Reeves resigned as Leader of the Council at a meeting of the Executive last night. As the office of Leader is now vacant, under the terms of Article 6 of the Constitution, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Joss Bigmore will act as Leader and is entitled to exercise all functions reserved to the Leader until a new Leader is elected by the Council. Read more >

New guidance to ensure low carbon, sustainable development in Guildford borough

New housing developments in the borough will have lower carbon emissions, be more sustainable and better able to meet the challenge of climate change after new guidance was adopted at a meeting of the Executive last night. Read more >

Improved pedestrian and cyclist paths providing safer, greener travel in Guildford

Residents, students and those on their way to work travelling from other areas of Guildford to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Surrey Research Park and Surrey Sports Park can now enjoy a smoother, safer journey thanks to the completion of the next phase of improvements we have made working with Surrey County Council and Highways England. Read more >

New flood defences for Guildford town centre to be considered

New flood defences for Guildford Town Centre will be discussed as part of the Council's review of Guildford Flood Alleviation Scheme proposals. Read more >

The Council's response to Coronavirus and keeping residents safe

Councillors were updated on ongoing response work to the pandemic, guidance changes, nationwide testing issues and the work of the Safer Guildford Partnership at a meeting of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier this week. Read more >

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills restoration work completed

Access to one of Guildford's most important heritage sites has been improved following completion of the latest restoration works at the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills. Read more >

Have your say on the management of Shalford Common

An online survey is now available to Shalford residents to help create a plan that will address issues including car parking on the common and parking on access tracks. Read more >

Join us virtually and in person for our Heritage Open Days 11-13 September

Guildford throws open its doors to the world from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September as England's largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, goes online for the first time. Residents and visitors will also be able to attend some of the exciting events in person in-line with Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidelines. Read more >

Virtual Job Club programme to be set up in Guildford

A new Virtual Job Club will be launched in Guildford next month to support local economic recovery following the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Read more >

Council considers next steps after Secretary of State decision

The Secretary of State earlier this week rejected the Council's application to reprovide Bellfields Road allotment holders with new facilities at North Moors and Aldershot Road allotments. Read more >

Relocation of Woking Road Depot to free up brownfield land for housing development

The Executive has approved plans to relocate the Woking Road Depot to create space for housing development, business, community and retail as part of the Weyside Urban Village. Read more >

Guildford Castle and Grounds amongst best UK attraction by TripAdvisor

Guildford Castle and grounds have received the 2020 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award for 2020, placing the attractions among the best in the UK. Read more >

Climate Change Board to focus on creating greener borough

Our commitment to tackling Climate Change and making our borough greener will now be given even greater prominence with the creation of a dedicated Climate Change Board. Read more >

Taxi driver has licence revoked - Crown Court dismisses appeal

A hackney carriage driver has had their appeal against the Council's decision to revoke their driver's licence dismissed by Guildford Crown Court. Read more >

Surrey's District and Borough Council Leaders launch work to transform Local Government across the County

On 19 August the Leaders of Surrey's 11 district and borough councils launched their 'Putting Residents First' campaign to transform local government in the county and bring decision making and services close to communities. Read more >

Guildford's August Bank Holiday Sale Bonanza - your chance to say thank you

Residents and visitors shopping in the town over the Bank Holiday weekend are in for a treat, with exciting events and competitions planned, thanks to Stuart Alexander of Big Mouth Guildford, with support from our town centre Business Improvement District Experience Guildford. Read more >

Guildford in Bloom winners announced

The winners of our borough's favourite gardening competition, Guildford in Bloom, have been announced. This year was the 39th celebration of the competition and for the first time ever was held online. Read more >

Positive feedback on Weyside Urban Village proposals

Over 200 people attended our five online public exhibitions to find out more about our proposed riverside development in Guildford and over three quarters of those who gave feedback support the project. Read more >

Update on Chantry Woods Campsite

Lead Councillor for the Environment, Cllr James Steel provides an update on the town's Chantry Woods campsite: Read more >

Update on public events in Guildford

All large events planned for 2020 on Council-owned land will be postponed or cancelled as the safety of our residents, visitors and staff remains our top priority. Read more >

Celebrating 75th anniversary of VJ Day in Guildford

VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, 15 August 1945 marked the day on which Japan surrendered bringing an end to nearly six years of war in the far east - a triumphant day following a war that cost millions of lives and saw unimaginable suffering with thousands held as prisoners of war. Read more >

Council agrees strategic plan for working towards net-zero carbon

A new high-level action plan has been agreed by the Executive which will help the Council continue to work towards achieving net-zero carbon by 2030. Read more >

Mayor's Award honours service to the community

Over 20 local residents and groups who between them give hundreds of hours each week to make a real difference in their community have been recognised and celebrated by the Mayor of Guildford. Read more >

General Election result for the Guildford Constituency

The result of the election of a Member of Parliament for the Guildford Constituency has been declared. Read more >

Final results for all 22 Guildford Borough wards now online

We have been publishing the results for each ward as they were declared throughout the day. Read more >

New Local Plan - Planning Inspector's final report published

The government's Planning Inspector has now produced his final report and recommendations and submitted them to the Council. This marks the end of his independent examination of our submitted Local Plan. Read more >