By local democracy reporter Daniel Mumby, additional reporting by Frome Times
A beloved green space in Frome could still be built upon after an appeal was lodged by a developer.
Packsaddle Fields, which lies on Frome’s northern edge, has been in public ownership since 1973 and was originally earmarked for a new school.
Somerset County Council announced in March 2022 that it was planning to sell the land off, entering into an agreement with housing association LiveWest – who put forward plans for 74 homes and a children’s home on the site in March 2023.
Somerset Council’s planning committee east (which handles major applications within the former Mendip area) voted to refuse planning permission for the scheme on January 7, echoing locals’ desire to protect the landscape.
But amid locals’ efforts to buy the land from the council using the asset of community value bidding process, LiveWest has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to overturn this decision – with a public inquiry expected to be held in the summer.
The committee was originally due to vote on the proposed development in November 2024, but deferred a decision due to concerns about the amount of affordable housing and the lack of contributions to local schools.
Under the revised proposals, 22 per cent of the new homes within the site would have been affordable – the equivalent of 16 properties.
LiveWest also committed to providing nearly £157,000 for local school places, along with more than £248,000 to upgrade the White Row and Beckington roundabouts between Frome and Bath.
Councillor Adam Boyden, whose Frome North division includes the site, argued in January that the town would suffer if such a cherished green space was taken away from local residents.
He said, “People have used the permissive paths and public right of way within the site and there is evidence of extensive public use. If this application is granted, we would lose something very special.”
Frome West Councillor Michael Dunk added at the time, “We haven’t covered ourselves in glory as a landowner. What we’re looking at here is a failed opportunity.
“It’s a disappointing application, with the loss of productive farmland and public amenity. The housing does not really fit in with the existing housing and would have an adverse effect on the character of the area.”
Local group, People for Packsaddle, said, “People for Packsaddle intends to formally participate in the appeal process to defend the community’s beloved fields, which are brimful of nature and birdsong this spring. We will also be engaging a King’s Counsel to present part of our case. We believe Somerset Council also has a duty to mount a robust defence of its democratic decision to reject the application.”
Frome is currently experiencing significant housing growth, with Wain Homes and David Wilson Homes both constructing developments on the B3092 The Mount (totalling 296 homes across three sites) and Curo building out the Keyford Meadows site on Sandys Hill Lane (comprising 198 homes and commercial units).
Several sites are currently being considered for future developments – including land south of Francis Fields (where David Wilson Homes wants to erect a further 140 homes), land east of the B3090 Oldford Hill (where Barwood Land has put forward proposals for 330 homes) and the planned Selwood Garden Community comprising 1,700 homes at the town’s southern edge.
LiveWest said that the need to deliver much-needed local housing outweighed the council’s concerns over the protection of green space.
A spokesman for D2 Planning Ltd. representing the applicant said, “There is a substantial need for additional market and affordable housing in the former Mendip district, and in Frome; hence the provision of housing on the site should be given significant weight in this appeal.
“Frome is a highly sustainable location for growth, with a full range of facilities
available in the town and with good connectivity by rail, bus and road to key nearby centres.
“Strategically, it is a highly advantageous location for growth to meet the needs of the former district and should be preferred above other less sustainable and accessible locations.
“Delivery of homes in the town has not kept pace with needs and there is no indication that there are deliverable sites available for development to meet needs in the next four years before the end of the Local Plan period.
“The benefits of the scheme include the delivery of market and affordable housing in a variety of tenures, as well as the children with disabilities home, employment generation during the construction phase, financial contributions to education facilities in the town, and the creation of a softer urban edge to the town in the location along with the provision of new public open space.”
The planning inspectorate has confirmed that this matter will be settled by an in-person public inquiry, rather than being handled through written representations.
The inquiry is expected to begin in Shepton Mallet on 22nd July and last for four days – just one week before the inquiry into the planned Selwood Garden Community.
To make a formal representation to the inquiry, visit www.acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk and quote case reference number 3363055 by 12th May.
