Native Land has appointed architects Squire and Partners to work up plans for its St Mary’s Wharf development, at the former Debenhams in Guildford.
The developer acquired the 1.4-acre riverside site at the end of last year. Initial public consultation kicked off in March, exploring a residential-led development with new walkways, open space, shops and restaurants to replace the 230,000 sq ft department store.
Alasdair Nicholls, chief executive at Native Land, said the purchase was “part of a strategy to identify redevelopment opportunities in fundamentally strong UK towns and cities, to reposition retail assets at a time when urban centres are rethinking the future of high streets”.
Henry Squire, partner at Squire and Partners, said: “This famous site presents an exciting opportunity to reconnect Guildford’s town centre to the river Wey, by opening up the riverside and creating new public spaces.”
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