Forum to respond to homes demand

Guildford is one of the areas earmarked for additional housing

Residents' associations, parish councils, MPs and councillors will help form a local authority's response to government demands for more housing.

The government wants 33,125 new homes to be built in the South East by 2026, which Guildford Borough Council says will mean 422 a year in the borough.

Green belt land to the north east of Guildford is likely to be to be needed to meet the target.

The council has called a forum meeting on 8 September to formulate a response.

The government announced its latest housing proposals as part of the South East Plan last month.

The first draft of the plan, prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) in 2006, recommended 100 fewer houses a year for Guildford.

'Hear views'

"We are concerned about the additional requirement for a further 100 homes each year and the pressure this may bring to the green belt," said head of planning Carol Humphrey.

"We will be interested in hearing views about this and other issues at the forum that will inform our response to the government."

The government has said it has proposed a "modest" 4% increase in housing for the South East.

It says there are more than 200,000 households on council waiting lists and more than 7,500 homeless households in temporary accommodation.

It has promised to protect areas of natural beauty and said that 80% of the South East would still be classified as rural.

The South East Plan Guildford Forum will take place at 1930 BST on 8 September at Guildford County School.

Places can be booked through the council on a first-come, first-served basis.