Media centre

Tuesday 21 Feb 2006

NEW STATION DEVELOPMENT ON WAY FOR GUILDFORD

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Passengers in Guildford are set to benefit from a new station building. Network Rail has announced that award-winning residential and commercial property developer Redrow Regeneration plc has secured preferred bidder status for a circa £200m projected funded by a sustainable mixed use development. Subject to planning approval, the busy commuter station will see a new transport interchange and state of the art train station constructed on a ‘raft’ over the tracks. The wider project will also see the introduction of residential apartments, retail, office and leisure facilities.  John Pike, Network Rail’s Director, Commercial Property said: “People who use this station, on such a vital route, deserve improved facilities. In partnership with the private sector we will deliver a new station building that will meet the needs of an increasing number of passengers. All this will be funded by an imaginative commercial development, providing much needed housing to this thriving area.” The proposed regeneration of the site will provide £20m worth of improvements to Network Rail’s facilities, resulting in a brand new station building and an extended platform 1 for accommodating twelve-car trains to increase capacity. The relocation of existing sidings will provide a new island platform. There is also potential to build an extra platform over the longer term. The proposals provide better pedestrian, cycle, taxi and bus links in addition to more parking facilities making the station more accessible and ease congestion. John Ireland, Managing Director for Redrow Regeneration added:  “We are extremely pleased to be working with Network Rail on the redevelopment at Guildford. It is our intention to use our vast experience of mixed use regeneration to develop a scheme that delivers benefits to both commuters and the wider community at large.”