Saxonvale community bid submitted after £900,000 raised

A community-led bid to acquire the Saxonvale site from Somerset Council has been formally submitted, marking a major milestone in efforts to bring the 12-acre town centre site into community ownership.

The bid, from Mayday Saxonvale Community Benefit Society, was made on Monday 13th July, and is supported by a Community Share Offer which has so far raised over £900,000 from over 1,000 investors.

If successful, Mayday Saxonvale will deliver a mixed-use extension to Frome’s town centre, including 263 new homes with at least 30% affordable, 10,000 sqm of commercial and community space, community owned assets and high-quality public spaces.

Real opportunity

Holly Lawton, Director of Mayday Saxonvale, said, “I was born and raised in Frome. I’ve watched our town change over the years and, like many people, I’ve seen decisions made about our future that have often felt beyond our control. We’ve seen development happen, profits made and companies move on, while our town has been left to deal with the consequences. And with so much more development on the horizon, we have a real opportunity to do things differently.

“That’s why this moment means so much. Our community isn’t opposing development, we’re asking for something different. We’ve stepped forward to make it happen ourselves.

“Who owns things matters. It not only impacts decisions, but where the value ends up. Instead of profits leaving Frome, it stays here, reinvested, creating opportunities long after the homes have been built.

Extraordinary

“Standing by the Saxonvale site with hundreds of people after we’d submitted our bid, knowing what our community has achieved together, was one of the proudest moments of my life. Raising more than £900,000 from over a thousand people is extraordinary. It’s the result of so many people stepping forward, each in their own way, to help make it happen: thousands of conversations and volunteer hours, leaflets delivered, posters put up, social media shared, events organised, doors opened and people encouraging friends and neighbours to get involved.

“We’ve shown what’s possible when a community believes in itself. We don’t have to wait for change, we can lead it.”

The proposals are based on several years of technical work and are supported by a professional team, including architects Studio Saar and social impact lender Resonance.

The bid comes as debate continues nationally about how communities can play a greater role in owning and shaping local assets. In a recent open letter, Frome Town Council described Saxonvale as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” and expressed support for a scheme that delivers long-term benefits for the town.

Brigid Clarke, Chair of Mayday Saxonvale Community Benefit Society, said, “We’re incredibly proud of the bid we’ve submitted. Our proposal offers Somerset Council something genuinely different. This isn’t simply a development proposal; it’s an opportunity to secure decades of social, economic and environmental value for the future of our town and for Somerset.

“As a Community Benefit Society, every surplus we generate is reinvested for the benefit of our community rather than extracted as private profit. Our ambition is to create a lasting income stream that supports local jobs, affordable homes, community spaces and the long-term stewardship of Saxonvale.

“We’re also in an exceptionally strong position to move forward. We have an experienced professional team already in place, backing from our funding partner Resonance supported through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Years of technical work, design development and planning are already complete. We’re ready to move straight into detailed planning, putting us years ahead of any new proposal.”

The Community Share Offer remains open on Crowdfunder until 30th September while Somerset Council considers the bids.

For more information, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mayday-saxonvale