Have your say on Acorn’s revised proposals for the Saxonvale site – By local democracy reporter Daniel Mumby

A MAJOR Somerset developer is having a second crack at regenerating a key Frome brownfield site in the aftermath of a judicial review. Frome residents will be able to have their say on the latest plans at a drop-in event at Frome Town Hall on Wednesday 6th March.

The Acorn Property Group, which has offices in Bath, was one of two parties which put forward plans to redevelop the Saxonvale site in Frome town centre – the other being the Frome-based Mayday Saxonvale.

Acorn secured planning permission from Mendip District Council in August 2022 (after two votes of approval by its planning board the previous year), but this decision was quashed by the High Court in October 2023 following a successful judicial review by Mayday Saxonvale director Damon Moore.

The company has now teased details of its revised proposals ahead of a new application being submitted to Somerset Council, which replaced the district council in April 2023.

The Saxonvale site lies in the heart of Frome town centre, being bordered by the River Frome to the north, the Merchant’s Barton car park to the west, the existing properties on Vicarage Street to the south and the town’s Lidl store to the east.

The 12-acre site is currently sealed off to the public, but has road access leading into it from two sides: Garsdale to the east and Saxonvale itself to the west (near the Silk Mill Studios).

Saxonvale was purchased by Mendip District Council in 2018, with the council purchasing land that once belonged to Notts Industries and Terramond and using more than £3m from Homes England to decontaminate and clear the site for development.

The site is allocated within the Mendip Local Plan Part II (which has since been carried over to Somerset Council) to deliver a minimum of 250 houses, along with commercial space and additional town centre car parking.

The crux of the judicial review was the amount of commercial space allocated within the site, with the council’s planning policy stating that 11,850 sq m of employment space must be provided within Frome during the life of the Local Plan Part II – of which “at least half” (5,925 sq m) must come from the Saxonvale site.

The original Acorn scheme only allowed for 4,181 sq m of commercial space – something which, the judge argued, would have been reason enough not to grant planning permission.

Justice Jay said in his judgement, “Given that 4,181 sq m is less than 5,925 sq m, and that no reason was given by the planning officer for departing from the development plan, the only proper course on this premise was to have refused this planning application.

“Given that Saxonvale comprises at least 80% of the Frome town centre development area, it is hardly surprising that local planners should be insisting that at least half of the 11,850 sq m requirement should be met within Saxonvale.

“The planning permission granted [to Acorn] on August 30th 2022 must be quashed.”

Acorn described the judge’s decision as being based on “a procedural technicality” and said its new plan would provide just over 5,990 sq m “flexible commercial and community spaces” – a rise of 43% on the previous plans.

The commercial element will focus on “incubator business spaces to enable local companies to remain and grow in Frome”, while the ‘western warehouse’ (once earmarked for an arts venue), will be retained and upgraded.

All other elements of the plans remain unchanged, with the site still expected to deliver 300 new houses, as well as a riverside park and a new footbridge over the river.

Amy Proctor, Acorn’s strategic partnership manager said, “We have always believed in our vision for Saxonvale, which will transform this long-awaited redundant site, delivering much-needed housing, community and commercial space – in addition to £2m in Section 106 contributions, including more than £1m towards education.

“We will ensure the commercial space is sustainable, deliverable and a realistic offering for Frome, we will continue to engage with the local community and work towards a detailed application later in the year.”

Frome residents are invited to have their say on the plans at a drop-in event being held at Frome Town Hall on Wednesday 6th March between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.

The feedback from this session will inform the new application which will be submitted to the council later in the year.