Mayday Saxonvale delay in Frome

Mendip District Council has twice approved plans put forward by the Acorn Property Group to redevelop the site, which will deliver 300 new homes, employment space and an arts and heritage facility on the former industrial site.

Alternative proposals put forward by the Mayday Saxonvale team – including a reduced number of homes, a relocated primary school and a lido – were due to be discussed by the council’s planning board on March 16.

However, Frome residents will now have to wait several more months before a decision can be taken.

While the Acorn proposals centre around delivering 300 homes, the Mayday plans envision a maximum of 182 properties, which will be concentrated in several blocks at the southern end of the site.

In addition to the new homes, the site will include offices and workshop space, a hotel and spa, and a music and performance space.

The existing Garsdale route into the site from the east will join up with Saxonvale, with St John’s Church of England First School relocating to the northern side of Garsdale from its current base on the A362 Christchurch Street East.

At the western edge of the site, many of the existing historic structures will be preserved and re-purposed for cultural and heritage uses – including the ‘western warehouse’, which has been earmarked as a possible arts venue.

Nearest the River Frome, green space will be preserved, with a new lido being built for year-round use and a new bridge being provided over the river.

A decision on the plans was originally due to be made in January, before the council’s planning department agreed an extension to March 16.

Mayday Saxonvale director Damon Moore said: “We have already been subjected to an extended pre-application process of 11 weeks, instead of the five we were promised.

“Having agreed to an extension for the initial determination date in January, it is clear we are being delayed again. We have had no communication from our planning officer Simon Trafford, nor been given any reason for this delay.

“Our planning consultants have called for clarity from the council and
strongly requested that our application be determined at the April planning
board [due to be held on April 13], or failing this, at an emergency planning board meeting prior to that date. We are awaiting a response from the council.

“Our alternative plan has received overwhelming backing from our
community, with more than 1,000 comments in support submitted by residents on the planning portal.

“Delaying our planning determination is not only frustrating for us, but it’s also extremely frustrating for the people of Frome.”

Mayday Saxonvale representatives have requested discussions with the council in its capacity as landowner of the Saxonvale site, but has not managed to secure these – despite an open letter to council leader Ros Wyke (which attracted more than 1,500 signatures) and a public statement made to the full council in February.

Director Paul Oster said: “Even though our planning application determination is being delayed, there is nothing to stop the council as the landowner from engaging with us to discuss our scheme for Frome’s town centre.

“The council engaged in extensive contractual discussions with Acorn prior
to their planning application even being submitted, let alone approved.

“We note that deputy leader Barry O’Leary assured the council on February 21 that both plans would be properly considered, and we await the opportunity to sit down with him and his colleagues to enable that proper consideration will take place.”

The council has declined to give a specific date as to when the Mayday Saxonvale plans would come before its planning board for a vote.

A spokesman said: “The application submitted by Mayday Saxonvale Ltd remains pending consideration at the current time.

"The application will be reported to the council’s planning board later in 2022 following discussions with the applicant's agent.”