We quickly realised that the Session Music premises would not be affordable, so a team of local architects and building experts volunteered to start looking at building economical, and secure premises, to be built sympathetically, whilst considering the environment surrounding the planned site. Two sites were considered – at Manor Fruit Farm and next to the car park off Hunts Hill Road. There are a number of critical success factors to take into account; the shop must be accessible to everyone, the availability of plenty of car parking and we must look after our local wildlife, our aim is to enhance the area, blending in: planting trees and creating swathes of wildflowers.

We wanted to find a central point of the village so that people will be able people to walk to the shop, or drive if further afield and be able to park.

After many consultations with architects, building experts, the Parish Council and Guildford Borough Planning, we identified a preferred site, an area on Manor Fruit Farm, settling between The Village Hall and the Therapy Garden, which has other clubs and facilities nearby.

A set of plans were drawn up and submitted after seeking pre-planning advice from Guildford BC’s Planning Department, and we are pleased to say our detailed plans have now been approved so it’s just a case of raising the funding and building and setting up the shop and cafe.

Since these first few critical months, we have prepared our detailed business plan, raised funds through our Share Offer and Government funding and out of all this effort we have seen the Normandy Shop & Café come to life.