Why hasn’t the Triangle site been fully demolished? What will happen to the site once it has been fully cleared? Why is the demolition of Bridge House required for the bridge works?
Triangle demolition and acquisitions update
The Triangle site acquisitions have been very successful to date and the majority of the site has been demolished.
The remaining buildings located on Guildford Road are mostly within our ownership and are vacant. The demolition was put on hold during the last bird nesting season and it will recommence in spring 2022.
At present, a few of the Guildford Road properties and a pocket of land remain in private ownership due financial terms not being agreed between the owners and the council’s property team. Voluntary purchase discussions continue whilst a compulsory purchase order (CPO) application is prepared for the Secretary of State. The CPO submission, if needed, is expected in the spring/summer.
The CPO process can take between one year and 18 months, but possibly up to two years depending upon Secretary of State decision timescales. It is hoped that voluntary acquisitions can be made without the need for a formal CPO.
Demolition requirements for Bridge House
The demolition of Bridge House is required to create the new combined footway/cyclist subway (as part of the widened bridge structure) and adjacent wing walls to support the Network Rail embankment and mainline tracks.
The demolition is also required to allow for the new structure’s footprint and provide access for the working platforms (crane and piling plant operations) required to construct the wing walls.
Future plans for the Triangle site
When the site has been fully demolished, it will be used as a compound for the project’s contractors and Network Rail.
The original long-term plan for the Triangle site, as set out in the original housing numbers for the HIF project with Homes England, was to deliver 300 housing units on this site. However, during the rail bridge and road layout design process, the site has reduced in size.
We are currently working with architects to consider the housing development options for this site.
Questions submitted by members of the public
A significant number of questions were submitted by residents in advance of the public meeting, to be held on Tuesday 22 February 2022. The above question and answer aims to provide responses to the main points and topics raised by local residents. Any outstanding or additional questions received will be added in the future.
- Why has the demolition of the triangle properties been delayed for so long?
- As the council received a grant from Homes England, does that mean the Triangle has already been earmarked for more high rise accommodation?
- What is happening with the demolition of the triangle? When will work continue?
- It is noted that Woking Borough Council wishes to purchase Bridge House, the building occupied by Curchods estate agents in order to provide an underground attenuation tank/soak-away. As the new tunnels are to be built on land already owned by British Rail, without the need to involve Bridge House, why is it proposed to spend taxpayers money on acquiring it, when any tank/soak-away could be located below Victoria Square?