<\/p>\n
Local church leaders had hoped a development proposal would solve its financial problems. The Most Rev Justin Welby wrote: \u2018It is sometimes said that cathedrals are the Church of England\u2019s equivalent of the big banks – \u2018too big to fail\u2019 – \u2026..because the central church would \u2018rescue\u2019 them before total collapse. This is not the case.\u2019<\/p>\n
He said: \u2018..the future of Guildford\u2019s Cathedral rests very much in the decision the council makes.\u2019 Bishop of Guildford Andrew Watson told the committee: \u2018Without this planning permission there will be no endowment, no investment income and possibly no cathedral.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, Councillors overwhelmingly voted against the application on the basis that it was out of character for the area. They also stated that the development would cause substantial harm to the cathedral building and have a negative impact on views of the building from key locations in Guildford.<\/p>\n