1,700-home development comes under fire

PLANS for a new ‘Selwood Garden Community’ – consisting of around 1,700 homes to the south of Frome – have been labelled as “concerning” and premature.

Local resident Jackie Simpson, who lives in the Mount area, has criticised the proposed development for its lack of social housing and short-supply of affordable housing, its environmental impact, and its housing density, which has increased from 1,500 to 1,700 since plans were last consulted on in December last year.

And Jackie is urging other residents to have their say on the plans before the developers make a formal planning application, which is expected to happen before the end of the year.

“It looks very pretty on paper,” said Jackie speaking to Frome Times, “but what are the long-term benefits for the community? And is it right for Frome?

“The density of housing has risen from 1,500 to 1,700, but they have not met the affordable homes quota of 40% – it’s still only 30%, and there’s no mention of social housing provision – something that Frome desperately needs.

“There are areas of Frome that are some of the most deprived in Somerset – it’s important we have the right housing available in our town to support these needs. And why is this being pushed through now when we have all this angst with Covid? And we haven’t got plans for Saxonvale settled yet – we don’t know what housing is going on there.

“This is being pushed through as it is not in the centre of town – they think that they won’t get anybody to notice it until it has gone through.  Why can’t we wait until we are through this crisis of health? We don’t even know if people are going to be able to afford houses like this – there are so many people out of work, and a lot of people are still on furlough and they may not have jobs to go back to.”

Formerly known as the ‘Selwood Garden Village’, the new revised plans for ‘Selwood Garden Community’ proposes a mixed-use development to the south of Frome, comprising around 1,700 new homes (including 30% affordable dwellings), employment land, a local centre and other social and physical infrastructure. The viability of a solar farm is also being explored to assist the development in becoming “as close to zero carbon as possible”.

“They have proposed to put in a commercial development that borders the Frome River corridor,” said Jackie, “I don’t see how that can possibly fit in with the environmental vision of the plan, it will interfere with the habitats in that area.

“There is also a new school marked on the plans – and previous experience in other counties tells me that when a school is marked on a provisional proposal, it often disappears in reality.

“This provision should be non-negotiable as where will all the children go to school? Schools in Frome are full!”

The online consultation for the ‘Selwood Garden Community’ is open until Friday 16th October, and feedback can be provided  directly through the website: www.selwoodgardencommunity.com

A printed version of the consultation can be viewed by appointment at Rook Lane Chapel, Bath Street, Frome for the duration of the consultation period. To arrange an appointment, please telephone 0117 930 0413 or email: enquiries@ grassroots-planning.co.uk