FROME is taking a stand to prevent another 1,700 new homes from being built in the next few years.

The southern edge of the town is currently experiencing significant housing growth, with 198 homes currently being constructed at the Keyford Meadows site off Sandys Hill Lane and four additional sites having secured planning permission within the last 18 months.

There also remains the prospect of a further 1,700 new homes being delivered as part of the Selwood Garden Community (SGC), which would extend the town as far as the A361.

Frome Town Council has taken a formal stand against the development, citing a “vast amount of local opposition” from local residents.

Land Value Alliances, acting on behalf of the SGC landowners consortium, put forward proposals in July 2021 for up to 1,700 new homes – larger than the proposed second phase of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension in Taunton (1,450 homes) or the Staplegrove urban extension in the same town (1,628 homes).

The development will also include a local centre and community hub, more than 25,000 sq m of employment space, two residential care homes, a 420-place primary school, playing fields, allotments, orchards and new pedestrian and cycle routes.

The plans are expected to be determined by Somerset Council before the end of the year.

The full council laid out seven reasons for objecting to the plans on Wednesday (April 17):

  1. The development is “outside of the development limits” for Frome: the majority of the site lies within the neighbouring parish of Selwood. With most of the new residents having to travel to Frome to access services, the development is “not sustainable and does not meet the test of sustainability from an economic, social and environmental perspective”
  2. The site is “too far from major facilities”: despite the new walking and cycling networks being included in the plans, the sheer number of cars still being used from the new homs would “put further strain on the highway network”. There is also “no guarantee” of any improvement in public transport provision
  3. The existing Frome infrastructure “cannot support a development of this size”: the town council feels there is not sufficient capacity within the town’s schools, medical centres or sewage network to accommodate these new homes. Councillors have urged Somerset Council to have “further discussions” with NHS Somerset and Wessex Water to see what improvements could be secured
  4. The town council is “not confident” that design codes will be followed: councillors have called for “greater certainty” from the consortium to ensure any homes which are delivered fit in with the current Frome vernacular. Particular concerns were raised about “changing their plans based on viability issues”
  5. There is not enough affordable housing: the current plans propose 30 per cent of the new homes will be affordable – the equivalent of 510 properties, delivered over a 15-year period. The town council feels this would not solve the town’s housing crisis, with councillors calling for 40 per cent (680 properties), and that “a high percentage” of the affordable housing must be built first
  6. The development would result in the “unacceptable loss of open countryside”: much of the land covered by the SGC is “valuable agricultural land” which could boost the UK’s food supply. While large sections of the site are allocated for “green infrastructure”, the town council does not feel these measures are “sufficient” to offset the loss of farmland
  7. The existing sewage network is “unacceptable”: the current sewage network “cannot cope with frequent overflows”, with the new homes having an “even more unacceptable impact” on the existing infrastructure. The town council has called for a new pumping station in the area.