MENDIP District Council’s controversial plan to build an office block made from steel shipping containers in the centre of Frome is currently on hold and won’t be returning ‘anytime soon’.
The council is instead focussing its resources on plans to regenerate and develop the Saxonvale site.
Mendip District Council withdrew their second planning application for 23 shipping containers on the site of the Justice Lane area of the Cattle Market car park, alongside the public toilet facilities, in June last year.
At the time, the council said that they were still ‘considering revisions to the scheme before re-submitting’, and that they ‘still intend to retain the use of containers’.
They also stated that the original application made in 2017, which proposed 20 shipping containers be located next to the Cheese and Grain and Frome Canoe Club, had not been withdrawn and could still be an option.
However, following questions from Frome Times, the council has confirmed that plans are on hold. A spokesperson for Mendip District Council said, “This is currently on hold at the moment, this is because there is a lot of resource being focused on Frome with the Saxonvale project and we have to share out resources across the district.
“As soon as this changes and there are any developments on the project, I will update you (Frome Times), I don’t imagine that this will be any time soon.”
