2nd February 2026

To the residents of Normandy, from your Parish Council

Now that the outline planning application has been submitted for the proposed Taylor Wimpey development, we just wanted to let you know what the Parish Council is doing and what you can do to make your concerns known in your response.

The Parish Council has employed an experienced planning consultant to review the mass of documentation to support us in focusing our response to ensure it is most effective.

At this stage, we must be careful not to have a predetermined response prior to consideration of the application so we must carry out a full review and consider the experienced advice which would allow our Planning Committee to produce our considered decision and response.

In terms of our and your response, it’s important to recognise that, for the comments to be most effective, they should focus on planning considerations rather than personal views. In general, personal views will be set aside and have little weight in the decision making.

We will let you know the outcome of our deliberations as soon as we have agreed our response.

In case you haven’t already seen the application, it can be found at:

https://publicaccess.guildford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_GUILD_DCAPR_212547

This is an outline application covering the main infrastructure to be delivered and location of access points, so those areas are of particular importance. It is likely to be the start of a lengthy process where other planning aspects are considered, potentially over the course of 18 months to 2 years.

There is also a separate application covering the Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) being provided.

The link to the SANG application is:

https://publicaccess.guildford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_GUILD_DCAPR_212548

If you want to respond individually then we encourage you to take notice of all advice given, we suggest the areas you may wish to focus on are:

  • Policy & Legal:National/Local Plan alignment, government guidance, planning history, previous decisions.
  • Environmental Impact:Loss of light/sunlight, overshadowing, privacy, noise, odour, trees, wildlife, flood risk, contamination.
  • Infrastructure & Access:Highway safety, traffic generation, parking, pedestrian access, drainage, utility capacity (schools, doctors).
  • Community Impact:Effect on listed buildings/conservation areas, disabled access, economic/social impact, heritage.
  • Design & Appearance (not all covered at outline stage):Scale, layout, density, materials, appearance, and integration with the area.

Please note that at outline stage, parameters are set and some of the detailed design and appearance aspects including layout will be considered at a later planning stage.

Taylor Wimpey’s Statement of Community Involvement

Following the publication of the proposed Taylor Wimpey (TW) planning application for our village, the Parish Council wishes to clarify its position in relation to statements made within TW’s ‘Statement of Community Involvement’.

In section 3.2, TW refers to meetings held with stakeholders, including a meeting with representatives of Normandy Parish Council on 24 July 2025. While this meeting was constructive and covered a range of topics, such as community facilities and environmental consideration, the Council does not agree with TW’s characterisation of our position. At no point did the Parish Council endorse the developer’s commitment to delivering a particular range of homes, nor did we express support for building heights.

From the outset, the Council’s intention has been to listen to proposals and engage impartially, in accordance with the Nolan Principles set out in our Code of Conduct. Any suggestion that we welcomed or supported specific development commitments does not accurately reflect our neutral and objective approach.

In November 2025, the Parish Council undertook its own public consultation and engagement exercise. We remain fully committed to representing the community in line with the outcomes of that process and based on the information available to us.

 

Normandy Parish Council Response to Shortlands Farm Outline Application

23 December 2025

Normandy Parish Council has now submitted its response to the Shortlands Farm application. The attached letter has been submitted but has not yet been published on the GBC website. In the meantime, you can see the response by following this link:

Normandy Parish Council response to Shortlands Farms Application

 

3 December 2025 

Shortland Farms outline planning application has been released. Comments can be made to the planning authority via the link below.

25/P/01521 | Outline planning application with all matters except for the accesses from Guildford Road and Wyke Lane reserved, for subsequent approval for the demolition of the existing buildings and hardstanding and the erection of up to 200 residential dwellings including affordable housing and plots of self-build plots (Class C3); green and blue infrastructure and associated service and utility structures. | Shortlands Farm, Guildford Road, Ash, Guildford, GU12 6DF

News article released by Guildford Dragon

Guildford Dragon NEWS

2 December 2025 

The review of the recent survey can be found here Feedback on Taylor Wimpey and Other Potential Large Scale Planning Proposals - Normandy Parish Coun…

5 November 2025

The Normandy Parish Council planning consultation has been launched see https://normandyparishcouncil.gov.uk/housing-proposal-feedback-survey/

Date for your diary:

30 November 2025  - There will be a Village meeting to hear the consultation feedback and how the parish council will represent them in planning matters

21 October 2025

The Parish Council have received notification of the next Taylor Wimpey public consultation, which will take place on Tuesday 4th November 2025, from 2.00pm to 7.30pm, at Normandy Village Hall. A newsletter will be distributed by Taylor Wimpey to local residents and stakeholders in the coming days, with full event details. We are advised that visitors will be able to view the emerging masterplan and speak directly with members of the Taylor Wimpey project team, including their planning, design and transport consultants. Following this second round of consultation, their team will review all feedback received before finalising the proposals ahead of submitting a planning application later this year.

Once Taylor Wimpey’s plans are shared, the parish council will be launching our own consultation to determine how you, our residents, wish to be represented on the matter. A paper copy will be delivered to every household by a team of volunteers, there will also be access to our consultation via our website and through a dedicated QR code. TW-Normandy and Flexford newsletter- Nov2025

25 September 2025

 Normandy Parish Council continues to prepare for the arrival of some major planning applications within the village by actively monitoring potential developments, understanding the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, gaining expert insight by working with a Planning Consultant maintaining open dialogue with stakeholders and residents and participating in public consultations. The Council remains focused on gathering community feedback, addressing infrastructure concerns, and analysing environmental impacts.

Alongside preparations for the Taylor Wimpey application, the Council is also strengthening its approach to all future significant planning proposals by updating its procedures and focusing on transparent community representation. Residents’ views will be sought through a forthcoming village-wide consultation, ensuring the Council’s advocacy truly reflects the wishes and priorities of the local community with regard to large-scale developments in Normandy.

Date: 10 July 2025

Normandy Parish Council is aware that a major planning application may soon be submitted for development within the village, with developer Taylor Wimpey hosting an initial consultation on 18th July 2-7pm at St Marks Hall.

As the elected representatives of the local community the Parish Council can only act as a statutory consultee in the planning process. This means we have the right to be notified of planning applications within the parish and to submit comments or representations. The planning authority, which is Guildford Borough Council, must take into account any comments or representations made by the parish council before making a decision on the application. However, the authority is not obliged to follow the parish council’s views—it must simply consider them as part of the decision-making process.

Next Steps

After the preliminary consultation stage and a planning application is formally submitted to Guildford Borough Council we will:

  • review the full application documents
  • publicise opportunities for residents to comment and may hold a public meeting if appropriate
  • remain impartial and will not form a final view until all relevant information is available and public consultation has taken place
  • submit our formal comments to the Borough Council within the statutory consultation period, reflecting the evidence and views received from the community.

Key Considerations

In preparing our response to the Borough Council, the Parish Council will consider the voice of the residents, by listening to and understanding all concerns of community members, the positive effects a major housing development may bring, as well as the following key considerations:

  1. Infrastructure and Services: The capacity of local infrastructure and services, including roads, schools, healthcare, and utilities, to support any additional development.
  2. Environmental Factors: Potential impacts on the local environment, biodiversity, and landscape.
  3. Impact on Village Character: The effect of the proposed development on the character, appearance, and identity of the village.
  4. Housing Need: The extent to which the proposal meets identified local housing needs, including affordable and specialist housing.
  5. Sustainability: The sustainability of the development in terms of design, energy use, and accessibility.

This is the very early stage of what is likely to be a long process; a time to understand what’s being considered and what would be the impact on the village.  Normandy Parish Council is committed to representing the interests of the whole community in the planning process. We will ensure that our response to the planning application is balanced, evidence-based, and in accordance with planning policy and best practice.

The final decision on the application will be made by Guildford Borough Council as the local planning authority.

Further information from Taylor Wimpy about the development can be found here; https://normandyandflexford.co.uk/

Further information from Gleeson Land about the Shortland Farm development can be found here;https://www.shortlandfarm.com/

Further information from Normandy Action Group can be found here https://www.normandyag.org.uk

News Articles

https://guildford-dragon.com/normandy-housing-plan-reignites-concerns-over-damage-to-our-community/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly10jk2350o

Statement from Dr Al Pinkerton MP https://www.alpinkerton.uk/normandy-housing-developments