By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby with further reporting by the Frome Times
Up to 360 new homes will be built near Frome’s rugby club if plans are approved in the coming months.
Land promoter Barwood Land entered into a promotion agreement in February 2021 surrounding around 85 acres (just over 34 hectares) of land on the northern edge of Frome, between Frome Rugby Football Club on Gypsy Lane and the B3090 Oldford Hill.
The company, based just outside Northampton, submitted initial proposals (known as a screening and scoping request) in February 2024 to deliver up to 420 new homes within the land, along with significant public open space.
A public consultation event was held at the rugby club in February 2025, by which time the intended number of properties had been reduced down to 330.
Barwood Land has now submitted formal plans for the site, revising the planned housing number upwards to 360 properties – with Somerset Council expected to make a final decision by the summer.
The proposed new development will be accessed from three new junctions: two on Oldford Hill and one on Gypsy Lane.
To achieve the latter access, Gypsy Lane will be stopped up east of the current agricultural buildings, with the eastern end connecting up to one of the Oldford Hill spine roads.
Of the 360 homes intended to be delivered under the outline plans, 108 will be affordable – meeting the council’s target of 30 per cent affordable housing for any new development of 10 homes or more within the former Mendip area.
In addition to the new homes, a community hub and allotments will be delivered near the rugby club, with significant orchard planting near both facilities.
The northern end of the site will be largely devoted to a new country park and community woodland, providing a green buffer of around 24 hectares between the new homes and the neighbouring Oldford area.
Numerous pedestrian and cycling links will be provided throughout the site, along with connections for onward travel into the town centre and towards Commerce Park, in line with the Frome local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which was published by Frome Town Council in March 2023.
A spokesperson for Stantec (representing the applicant) said, “The development at Oldford Hill will create a sustainable, accessible and attractive
place that respects its landscape setting and enhances the local area.
“It aligns with national and local planning policy and will deliver significant benefits, including affordable housing, new community spaces, and improved green infrastructure.
“The scheme represents a positive contribution to Frome’s future growth and will continue to evolve through engagement with Somerset Council and the local community.”
The council is expected to make a decision on the proposals by the summer.
Due to the scale and significance of the plans, this decision is likely to be taken in public by its planning committee east (which handles major applications within the former Mendip area), rather than through the delegated powers of its planning officers.
…Residents campaign against the plans
Residents have launched a petition against plans for up to 360 homes near Frome Rugby Club.
The ‘Save Oldford and Stonebridge’ campaign is raising awareness of the impact the development on land east of Frome Rugby Club could have on local wildlife, Frome’s roads and infrastructure.
They are urging people to sign a petition and submit comments to Somerset Council’s planning portal by 2nd March.
One resident of Oldford, David, said, “If you have 360-odd houses, you are talking about an additional 2,000-odd cars per day using the roads. They are either going to be down Oldford Hill via one of the unsafe access routes, or they are going to be going through Stonebridge. Stonebridge was never built for this traffic.”
The residents are particularly concerned about traffic levels, accessibility and road safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, especially at peak times and at known ‘pinch-points’ on Frome roads.
They say they want to raise awareness that the developer is proposing several changes to road layouts in Frome, including Stonebridge Drive, Beaconsfield Road, Rodden Road and Oldford Hill.
Frome Town Council is holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss the plans on 19th March at Frome Town Hall.
For more informa-tion, visit www.saveoldfordstonebridge.org. To sign the petition, visit https://shorturl.at/0PHQs
