Recent enquiries to Waverley Borough Council have revealed that the build
programme for this important unit on Godalming High Street is now 9 months
behind the schedule originally outlined to Councillors in August 2023.
Handover to the tenant in a ‘shell and core’ condition is now scheduled to be
Feb 2026.
The incoming tenant Loungers will then need to fitout the building. This is
anticipated to take 6-9 months and so the restaurant bar will not be open
until at least the second half of 2026. Waverley Borough Council is paying
£150,000 to Loungers towards the cost of their fit-out. Waverley is also paying
all vacancy costs including rates for the multiple years the building has sat
empty.
No main contractor for the build has been appointed.
Waverley Borough Councillor for Godalming Holloway, Peter Martin, said:
“This is extremely disappointing news for Godalming residents and
Godalming High Street retailers. Four years will have elapsed before the
incoming tenant commences trading. This is far too long. The site was
acquired with planning permission for much needed new homes – but those
too have been delayed. It will be years before these are delivered – and at
what cost?”
“Sadly, it reinforces what our Council group has long stated - that 69 High
Street is a money drain. We believe that the Lib Dem-led Administration
overpaid to acquire it and the new timescales we are seeing are very
disappointing.”
Councillor Daniel Husseini (Waverley Borough Councillor for Godalming
Binscombe and Charterhouse) states:
“You have to wonder why the decision was made to buy this building – it’s
been a huge drain on the Council’s money, resources and time. Think what
we could have done with this £4.5m.... Broadwater Park still sits empty 6
years later”
Godalming Town Councillor Ed Holliday responded to the news:
“69 High Street’s long-term vacancy is a huge setback for our high street. I
understand the adjacent former Lorimers/Vape Shop/Well & Good retail and
residential redevelopment is now well underway - which serves to further
highlight the delays and problems here.”
