{"id":28910,"date":"2021-01-19T16:06:46","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T16:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=28910"},"modified":"2023-11-14T17:43:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T17:43:45","slug":"ihbc-features-heritage-from-the-doorstep-london-developer-buys-guildfords-debenhams-to-unlock-potential-but-no-mention-of-arts-and-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=28910","title":{"rendered":"IHBC features \u2018Heritage from the doorstep\u2019: London developer buys Guildford\u2019s Debenhams to \u2018unlock potential\u2019, but \u2018no mention of arts and community\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The landmark Debenhams store in the centre of Guildford – due to close in the New Year – has been bought for \u00a320 million by a London property developer, but \u2018no mention of arts and community use and this is likely to frustrate many\u2019 writes The Guildford Dragon!<\/h3>\n

\u2026 no mention of arts and community use and this is likely to frustrate many\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u2026 community multi-use facility that would help maintain the vibrancy of the town\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

The<\/em> Guildford Dragon<\/em> writes:<\/p>\n

The landmark Debenhams store in the centre of Guildford due to close in the New Year has been bought for \u00a320 million by London property developer Native Land.<\/p>\n

Bill Stokoe, the Guildford Vision Group chair, said: \u201cI just look forward to the development enhancing its setting and making the riverside even more accessible for people to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alasdair Nicholls, Native Land chief executive, said: \u201cThe store is a perfect opportunity to unlock the potential of land and buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n

His company statement said they will be exploring \u201ca range of future development options for the asset, including homes for sale and rent, together with mixed retail and commercial to unlock and enliven the river frontage\u201d.<\/p>\n

There was no mention of arts and community use and this is likely to frustrate many who see the central site as ideal for wider social activities as well as residential and commercial space.<\/p>\n

Zoe Franklin, Guildford\u2019s Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, said: \u201cIt is disappointing the sale to a luxury residential developer suggests this may no longer be possible to realise.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t believe all is lost and I sincerely hope Native Land will follow the lead of Guildford Borough Council….<\/p>\n

Alistair Smith, the Guildford Society chair, said: \u201cThis is an opportunity to provide for a community multi-use facility that would help maintain the vibrancy of the town where retail needs to be supplemented by other attractions. This use doesn\u2019t preclude dwellings being built on the upper floors.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said with a lack of clear policies on development in the town, that producing \u201ca draft town centre master plan to guide how the centre will evolve\u201d before it was too late was critical.<\/p>\n

Mr Smith added that rumours persist \u201cone developer could make Debenhams work only by building to 20 storeys\u201d.<\/p>\n

The site, with the river on two sides, is prone to flooding. Mr Smith said the developer \u201cwill require an innovative approach\u201d….<\/p>\n

Read more….<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The landmark Debenhams store in the centre of Guildford – due to close in the New Year – has been bought for \u00a320 million by a London property developer, but \u2018no mention of arts and community use and this is … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ihbc-newsblog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28910"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38238,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28910\/revisions\/38238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}