25.11.14
Network Rail joint venture plans £150m Guildford station regeneration
A joint project between Network Rail and Kier Property is submitting plans this week to bring forward a £150m regeneration of Guildford station.
It is the seventh project promoted by Solum Regeneration, a £500m joint venture established in 2008 between Network Rail and Kier Property to bring private investment into the rail network.
Solum generates funds from the development of under-used railway land and has completed projects at Christchurch, Epsom and Walthamstow. Work is due to start shortly at Redhill and Haywards Heath, and at Twickenham after the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The new Guildford scheme includes £25m for rail improvements – including a new station building, a radically enhanced public realm and a new transport hub, improving the connections with taxis, bicycles and public transport.
The other £125m will go towards the development of 445 new homes and commercial office space, as well as shops and restaurants to create a new ‘station quarter’. It is this investment that is expected to fund the entire project.
Stuart Kirkwood, director of development at Network Rail Property, said: “Guildford is one of the busiest and fastest growing stations in Surrey. Almost eight million people travel through Guildford station every year, up from six million just 10 years ago.
“As the number of people travelling by train continues to grow, its right that we invest in better stations for the travelling public. This innovative plan for the redevelopment of Guildford station will give passengers better access, improved station facilities and better links with the rest of the town centre. It will ensure that the station has the capacity to cater for increased passenger numbers over the coming decades.”
He added that as the project is being fully funded by commercial development the new station facilities will come at no cost to the taxpayer or farepayer.
Peter Hughes, development director at Solum Regeneration, added: “This is another step forward for Solum Regeneration. We have now completed three major schemes and two more are about to start. Guildford will be our biggest regeneration project yet. Our proposals will regenerate an unsightly and underused brownfield site in the town centre and provide a modern, attractive station.”
(Image: c. N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)
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