LOCAL councillors are celebrating the news that Sandys Hill Lane housing developers have dropped plans to demolish Keyford Farmhouse, a Grade II listed 18th century building.
Planning permission was granted last year for up to 235 houses on the land behind fast-food restaurant McDonald’s. The approval by Mendip District Council also gave the go-ahead for the demolition of Keyford Farmhouse and its outbuildings.
However, in response to concerns about the demolition of the farmhouse and the density of the development, developers Curo have revised their plans.
Instead, the farmhouse and converted barn will be retained and developers plan to reduce the number houses on the site to 198 houses – which will include 47 social rent houses and 12 shared ownership houses.
The developer will also provide a wider green buffer zone around Keyford House, a listed building.
However, access to the site – which last year was criticised for its potential to cause “traffic chaos” – will remain the same as approved last year.
Mendip District councillor for Frome Market, cllr Michael Dunk said, “I have been quietly campaigning within Mendip for a year to save the farmhouse and been in touch with Curo regularly, so I am delighted.
“I even uncovered an ecological report that showed evidence of swallows nesting in several buildings and bat roosts in two of the buildings.”
Mendip District councillor for Frome Keyford, cllr Helen Kay – who argued against demolition at the district council planning board meeting last year – said, “I’m relieved we have a chance to save this recognised heritage asset, although it’s not in the bag yet and we still have the problem of the access road which is often clogged up with traffic to McDonald’s.
“But there are other improvements on the outline scheme, such as social housing that will be managed ‘in perpetuity’, so cannot be bought or sold off.”
“I’m really pleased to see the farmhouse retained,” said Frome Town councillor Richard Ackroyd, at a town council meeting last week, which included a presentation from Curo about their revised plans.
Frome Civic Society has also welcomed the retention of Keyford Farmhouse, which they have described as a “non-designated heritage asset of local significance”.
They said, “We hope that Curo will afford the opportunity for the structure and interior to be examined by a historic building archaeologist in order to fully record any historic evidence before refurbishment or conversion. It has been identified with a high degree of confidence as the site of the Saxon manor listed in the Domesday book as ‘Chaivert or Cayford’, and known by 1405 as Little Keyford Manor. There is a strong probability that the farmhouse occupies the site of the original manor house. In the 18th century, the complex became the home farm to Keyford House, and in the 19th century, the farmhouse was rebuilt or remodelled in a fashionable gothic style, clearly intended to enhance the view from the gardens of the enlarged and aggrandised (now listed) Keyford House.”
The preview planning document from Curo states, “Over the past few months, we worked with Mendip District Council officers during the pre-application process to refine and improve our proposals, focusing on feedback from local stakeholders and residents….Some of the key changes we made are the retention of Keyford Farmhouse and converted barn, a lower-density development and more protection/buffers for existing properties near the site.
“Our scheme exceeds the requirements of the outline permission for open space and biodiversity enhancements and aims to deliver much-needed new homes in an attractive, architecturally-sensitive and sustainable development for Frome.”
The ‘reserves matter’ application – which includes the changes – was submitted formally to Mendip District Council last week.
