Green light nears for major student scheme

Plans to redevelop a site close to Guildford’s historic lido to make way for a major student accommodation scheme overlooking Stoke Park have been recommended for approval.Applicant Stone Grove Stoke Park is seeking permission to demolish a complex of vacant buildings at the western end of Lido Road which was formerly part of the Guildford College campus.Once cleared, the site has been earmarked for student accommodation comprising 527 bedspaces, communal kitchens and living space, study areas, a gym and student amenity areas.Space is also given over for ancillary potential uses including a health centre.The proposal includes four individual buildings, varying in height from four to six stories and arranged around a central courtyard.All the buildings would include student bedspaces while there would also be a roof terrace and communal areas within the western building overlooking Stoke Park.The central courtyard would be landscaped to provide external seating areas for the student amenity and a landscaped garden for use by the occupants.According to a report to be scrutinised by Guildford Borough Council later this week, the development would provide “much needed purpose built student accommodation” and has the potential to “free up family housing that is currently rented to students”.While the proposed buildings would be larger than those at the location currently, they are said to have been “carefully design and are considered to be of high architectural quality”.The location is accessible for students studying at the Guildford College, the University of Surrey, the Academy of Contemporary Music and the University of Law.