Developers behind the high-profile redevelopment of the former Debenhams building in Guildford town centre have applied to alter their original consent so they can add an extra floor to one of the two residential blocks. The amendment, lodged following the scheme’s 2022 approval, would raise the total number of homes on the St Mary’s Wharf site from 180 to 188, including one more affordable dwelling.
What the change would mean
The application proposes adding a single additional storey to Building A – the smaller of the pair of blocks approved for the site – bringing its height into parity with Building B. Native Land, the developer, says the adjustment will enable delivery of the extra homes and allow the development to be completed in a single construction phase, which it argues will reduce disruption in the town centre.
- Total homes currently consented: 180
- Proposed total if amended: 188
- Additional affordable homes: 1
- Planned construction start (developer expectation): before Christmas 2026
Developer’s position and recent site work
Native Land points to substantial preparatory work since planning permission was granted in November 2022. That activity includes demolition of the former department store, basement and ground-floor infrastructure works, and measures described as flood protection. The developer says these steps, together with detailed contractor negotiations, underpin its intention to move to the next phase of building in late 2026.
"Native Land is committed to delivering a best-in-class development of high-quality homes and public realm in the heart of Guildford," the developer told SurreyLive.
Local context and implications
The former Debenhams site has been a focal point of town-centre change. Erected in the 1960s, the department store dominated the skyline by the River Wey until it closed in 2021 and was subsequently demolished. The St Mary’s Wharf project was approved to provide a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments alongside restaurants and commercial space, aiming to regenerate a prominent town-centre plot.
Adding homes within the central site is framed by the developer as a way of meeting housing needs without encroaching on the green belt. For residents and businesses, the key immediate question will be how the change affects timing and the scale of construction activity on a busy stretch of the high street. Native Land says delivering the scheme in a single phase will limit the length of disruption compared with a phased build.
Next steps
The planning amendment will be considered by the borough’s planning authority alongside officers’ assessments of design, transport and neighbourhood impacts. Any decision will determine whether the revision – the extra floor on Building A and the rise to 188 homes – can proceed as part of the current permission or whether further changes or conditions will be required.
| Plan element | Consent (2022) | Proposed amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Total homes | 180 | 188 |
| Affordable homes added | – | 1 |
| Building altered | Building A & B (different heights) | Building A raised to match Building B |
| Anticipated construction | Consented | Start expected before Christmas 2026 (developer) |
The proposal will be of particular interest to Guildford residents concerned about town-centre regeneration, housing supply and the practicalities of large-scale construction in a central location. The council’s forthcoming consideration will test whether the amended scheme balances those priorities while safeguarding design, amenity and highways concerns in the immediate area.
