Former bank building eyed up again for housing site

Fresh plans have been submitted to renovate a former Natwest bank, which would extend it and partially convert the site into housing.

The former bank building in Worplesdon Road, Guildford, would be remodelled to house two commercial units and six new homes – comprising a mix of flats and two semi-detached houses.

The building has been vacant since the NatWest site closed in 2018, according to planning documents.

A previous planning application was refused and a subsequent appeal rejected, which would have seen nine residential units installed at the site.

In its refusal, Guildford Borough Council's planning officers said: "The proposal would have a materially harmful impact in terms of overbearance on the neighbouring property, Wood Court."

But the applicant now argues that the fresh proposals should be permitted, stating that they contribute "more into the variations of housing supply to meet national and local targets", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The proposal has less impact on its neighbouring properties in terms of overbearing, privacy and right of light," they added.

A total of 12 off-street parking spaces would also be included in the proposals, and the applicant claimed that the site was well served by public transport.

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