Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Strategy and Sites

E5: Rural economy

In order to support economic growth in rural areas, which will create jobs and prosperity, a positive approach to sustainable new development will be taken in Guildford borough. To promote a strong rural economy:

  • the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas will be supported, through conversion of existing buildings and provision of well-designed new buildings of appropriate scale, provided they are in accordance with green belt policy and other policies in the plan
  • the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses will be supported, and
  • the retention and development of accessible local services and community facilities in the inset and identified villages, such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open space, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship, which respect the character of the countryside, will be supported.

The Council will work with our partners at Surrey County Council and the Enterprise M3 LEP to support and improve the provision of internet services where needed in rural areas and enhance digital inclusion in such areas. This will help to retain and promote services and types of business, including traditional agriculture, and help to create more sustainable villages. The Council will also work with partners to support the provision of small-scale business incubation centres in rural areas.

Agricultural land will be protected as set out in national policy and the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land will be taken into account.

To support the rural economy, national policy is more flexible, allowing small-scale development for main town centre uses (see glossary) without applying the sequential approach. The sequential approach will not be applied to applications for small scale rural offices or other small scale rural development.

Proposals that would result in the loss of shops and services that provide for everyday needs (within Use Class A1) located in rural areas but outside of Local and District Centres, will only be acceptable if evidence is provided of active and comprehensive marketing of the site for its current use for a minimum of 12 months prior to submission of a planning application.

For more information please see the Local Plan