Councillors ‘minded to refuse’ 1,700-home Selwood Garden Community proposal

PLANS for a 1,700-home development on the edge of Frome remain undecided, as councillors said they are ‘minded to refuse’ the proposal following a heated debate.

The plans, for the Selwood Garden Community, were debated at Somerset Council’s Planning Committee East meeting on Tuesday 3rd December. Councillors heard strong objections from Frome’s community, including representatives from the Stop Selwood Garden Community campaign, Frome Town Council and Selwood Parish Council. Concerns centred on the scale of the development, its impact on local infrastructure, and fears of pollution affecting the River Frome.

The application includes 1,700 homes, two care homes, 6.7 hectares of employment land, a mixed-use local centre, a primary school and open spaces. After lengthy deliberations, councillors narrowly voted that they were ‘minded to refuse’ planning permission and agreed to finalise reasons for refusal.

They discussed various reasons for this, including the departure from the local plan, the development’s impact on the local area, and the loss of much-valued landscape; the unsustainability of the development for Frome; disproportionate growth; and the lack of infrastructure to support it. Other points included residual impacts on transport, effects on the town’s character and climate impacts. Councillors will now formulate their response based on these discussions. The matter will return for further discussion early next year.

Cllr Steve Tanner, leader of Frome Town Council, welcomed the committee’s cautious approach. He said, “At Frome Town Council, we welcome the decision to defer the final decision about Selwood Garden Community. We have engaged positively with Somerset Council throughout this process and urge them to adopt a more inclusive approach to working with us and with Selwood Parish Council. Frome Town Council voted to object to the development back in May, and many of the questions and concerns that led to that decision remain unanswered.

“There are numerous examples of how initial promises made by developers at this stage are gradually eroded, with no consultation with local councils. In this case, even the initial promises are inadequate. Our concerns include the percentage of affordable housing proposed, which is too low at 30%. There are none of the one-bedroom properties planned, which we know Frome needs.

“Section 106 funding for improvements to local infrastructure is insufficient. The claims that Frome Medical Practice is equipped to look after an extra 5,000 people do not coincide with the lived experience of our community, as evidenced by our recent town-wide survey. We would also like to see clear protection for veteran trees and hedgerows on the site.

“We remain committed to working with Somerset Council and our colleagues at Selwood Parish Council to ensure the reasons for the deferral are well documented.”

At the full Frome Town Council meeting on Wednesday 4th December, Somerset Councillor for Frome North, Cllr Dawn Denton, highlighted that this was the ‘first time ever’ Somerset Council had agreed on a ‘minded to refuse’ motion.

All Somerset Councillors for Frome, including Cllr Shane Collins, Cllr Helen Kay, Cllr Dawn Denton, Cllr Adam Boyden, Cllr Martin Dimery, and Cllr Michael Dunk, opposed the application.

“To approve this at the first time of hearing is a big ask for me when I have such a list of concerns,” said Cllr Adam Boyden.