NO MORE NEW HOMES IN TONGHAM
PUBLIC MEETING FEBRUARY 6TH 2026
Quite an astonishing experience tonight: an absolutely packed meeting of residents to discuss the 420 houses proposed in the planning application submitted by Taylor Wimpey for Manor Farm Tongham.
The message from the community could not have been clearer. People are not saying no to any development: waht they are saying – overwhelmingly – is that Tongham is already under immend=se strain after years of unconstrained expansion. The village has absorbed wave after wave of new housebuilding, with precious little of the supporting infrastructure delivered. Residents are understandable jaded.
This application raises very real concerns: gridlock on already stretched local roads, homes at increased risk of flooding in an area that already stuggles with significant flooding, and deep frustration that infrastucture promised on previous large developments in Tongham and Ash has simply not materialised.
Excerpt from Tongham Community Board post by Jeremy Hunt MP
NEWS
Jeremy Hunt Constituency Update 17th November
We have engaged our MP Jeremy Hunt in our campaign; please see an extract from his newsletter below.
YET MORE HOMES IN TONGHAM? Last week Taylor Wimpey announced proposals for a major development adjacent to the Hogs back Brewery (known as the ‘Manor Farm development’), plus a further 900 homes proposed between Normandy and Flexford just to the north of the Godalming and Ash boundary. The consequences of Labour’s recent doubling of local housing targets are now hitting hard: Guildford’s target has risen from 560 to over 1,100 and Waverley’s from 710 to more than 1,400. Because neither councils can demonstrate a forward five-year housing supply (LibDem Waverley’s is just 1.3 years despite inheriting a five-year supply from their Conservative predecessor) we now have the dreaded “tilted balance” in place – which means developers basically win all their appeals. We absolutely need to build homes for our young people, but Tongham, Ash and other areas feel they are taking more than their share. More to follow on this… but in the meantime thanks to Tongham Parish Council keeping me updated.
Guildford Dragon News
Please see below an extract from the Guildord Dragon News on November 18th 2025 or read full article here
In the case of the Tongham proposals, a survey is currently up and running to determine the views of local people. Tongham Parish Council is fiercely opposed to the plans, citing potential traffic chaos, flooding risk, loss of the village’s identity and destruction of an area of great landscape value. The land in question is behind the Hog’s Back Brewery. There would be two entrances into the site, taken from The Street and Poyle Road.
Ward councillors Matt Furniss and Sallie Barker, both Conservatives, have set up a survey to obtain residents’ views – pointing out in a joint statement that there has already been significant development already in these villages. Their message is: “Enough is enough.”
On social media, people are expressing alarm about Taylor Wimpey’s implications for Tongham. There are comments suggesting that 400 new homes would put significant pressure on roads and primary healthcare facilities.
And as one person pointed out: “There is a desperate need for a new doctor’s surgery (in the area).”
Another person lamented that “Our village is now going to be one great big housing estate.”
Another person said: “This all actually makes me want to cry for our village. I have lived in Tongham since 1998 and what was a lovely quiet place to live is now completely ruined.”
Parish Council Statement
You may know by now that Taylor Wimpey (TW) are planning to build 450 new homes in Tongham on GREEN land behind the Hogs Back Brewery.
Tongham has had its fair share of new build developments over the last few years and the time has come to oppose any further developments to protect the integrity and identity of our community and village! Indeed the recent developments at Admiral Park has delivered no infrastructure benefits to our village, despite developers’ promises in the planning application stages.
KEY OBJECTIONS
MORE TRAFFIC CHAOS – proposed access roads to the development are off both Poyle Road (near the Scout Hut) and The Street (just down from Manor Farm) and will cause further traffic chaos to waht are already extremely difficult road to navigate
INCREASED DANGER TO LIFE – increased risk of serious accidents given the current on street parking seen on these roads, which regularly reduces them to one lane. We already see village roads used as a shortcut from the A31/A331 by non-locals, with many speeding. Consider at least another 600 cars using these routes!
INCREASED FLOOD RISKS – TW’s claims in their consultation paper are simply untrue. Anybody who has lived in our village for a while will know that serious surface floods are becoming increasingly frequent and troublesome (at least 3 in the last 2 years) especially along Poyle Road, The Cardinals, Grange Road and The Street. This will only worsen as TW turns more farmland to concrete.
LOSS OF VILLAGE IDENTITY – whilst Guildford Borough Council have has their New Homes targets doubled by the current government, Tonghsm has already taken its fair share of development. Any further development will destroy the identity of our village and the community of Tongham!
DESTRUCTION OF AN AREA OF GREAT LANDSCAPE VALUE – destruction of habitats, land and views across the Surrey Hills National Landscape – the proposed site immediately borders this National Landscape. This land is formally classified as an Area of Great Landscape Value and should never be built on!
NO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS – no real proposals to date from TW to improve the infrastructure for Tongham as a whole, such as GP Surgery, dentists, education facilities etc.
Please use this link to access the biased and inaccurate views provided by Taylor Wimpey in respect of this proposal.