‘Decent affordable homes’ in Surrey town centre a step closer after £100,000 development costs agreed

The 69 High Street site has been vacant since M&Co shut its doors – with Waverley Borough Council taking over the site in 2022 with visions to turn the building into a new cafe and housing.

The retail part of the deal has been ticking over with planning permission secured, and last week the council agreed development funding to help 10 new affordable homes be built on the site as part of the package.

The project has been a controversial one with opposition members labelling it a £4.5million “ego project” amid criticisms over the time the site has sat empty.

The council however says it will support its priority of ‘a more prosperous borough’.

The report to March’s Waverley Borough Council executive committee read: “The redevelopment of 69 High Street for housing meets the strategic corporate priorities of the council. It will bring forward ‘decent and affordable homes’ through the demolition of existing large retail unit to allow for homes to the rear of the site, which will be built and retained by the council.”

Speaking at the meeting was Councillor Mark Merryweather (portfolio holder for finance, assets and property) said he was “really really pleased” to see the project coming forward.

He said: “For me the housing delivery was always the more important side of the 69 High Street project and it’s really nice to see that starting to get going.”

In February 2022, the council approved the acquisition of the building to bring forward affordable in the town centre and “preserve” the integrity of the high street.

Since then, planning permission for the cafe has been secured and a lease signed.

Cllr Liz Townsend (portfolio holder for planning and economic development) added: “I’m really looking forward to this housing being developed.

“It’s being developed in the centre of town, we rarely get brownfield sites that we can actually meaningfully develop.

“It’s really good to see that in the centre of Godalming.

“We picked the site because of the opportunities for affordable housing and I’m really pleased to see it coming forward so quickly.”