A planning application for the regeneration of Guildford station has been submitted by Solum Regeneration.

The £150m Guildford scheme follows extensive consultation with the local authority and local community and will deliver major rail improvements - including a new station building, a radically enhanced public realm and a new transport hub which will improve the connections with taxis, bicycles and public transport. It will also provide better and safer pedestrian links into Guildford town centre.

Stuart Kirkwood, director of development at Network Rail Property, said: "Guildford is one of the busiest and fastest growing stations in Surrey. Almost eight million people travel through Guildford Station every year, up from six million just 10 years ago.

"As the number of people travelling by train continues to grow, it's right that we invest in better stations for the travelling public. This innovative plan for the redevelopment of Guildford station will give passengers better access, improved station facilities and better links with the rest of the town centre. It will ensure that the station has the capacity to cater for increased passenger numbers over the coming decades."

The scheme will create over 300 hundreds new jobs on the 2.2 hectare site, and provide around £25m of station improvements, including 440 car parking spaces for rail users, 272 additional station cycle spaces, 2,800 sqm of retail provision, 1,600 sqm of new offices.

Peter Hughes, development director from Solum Regeneration, added: "This is another step forward for us and Guildford will be our biggest regeneration project yet. Our proposals will regenerate an unsightly and underused brownfield site in the town centre and provide a modern, attractive station."

This scheme will be funded through the development of a new vibrant station quarter, providing 445 new homes and commercial office space, as well as more retail and restaurant units. The new homes will include a mix of market and affordable homes, which will help reduce development pressure on greenfield land around the town.