Deadline approaching for controversial plans for housing at Packsaddle fields

People for Packsaddle (PfP), a local residents group opposed to development on fields north of Packsaddle Way, is asking people to send their objections in now against plans to build 74 houses on the eight acres of green fields. The deadline for comments to be received by is next Monday, 26th June.

The developers LiveWest officially submitted their plans to build 74 houses in the area last month and the plans could also see the construction of a home for children with disabilities. In the plans, 22 of the homes will be affordable, which is 30% of the total – these will be provided as 17 for social rent (77%) and five for shared ownership (23%).

PfP have consistently opposed these plans as they say the area is vital to the health and well-being of the local community and the area has been enjoyed by locals for decades. The group has been successful in securing an Asset of Community Value status for the fields, and the area was also added to Somerset Council’s list of green spaces in Frome.

The group has raised concerns that the developers’ proposals for affordable housing at the site may not come to fruition. “Local housing policy states that any new housing developments are expected to provide at least 30% affordable housing, but LiveWest have said in their planning proposal that it is not financially viable for them to fund any affordable housing due to the difficult ground conditions of the site,” said a spokesperson for the group.

Toby Culff, head of PfP, added, “This underlines what we have always maintained, that this is not a suitable site for a housing development for so many reasons, and even if it were, what is being proposed is mainly three-to-four-bedroom houses, which will be sold for upwards of half a million pounds. This proposal will do nothing to meet the housing needs of Frome, whilst sacrificing a precious and well-used green space.”

Members of the group have also expressed their disappointment that the developer has plans to fit the houses with gas boilers rather than using more modern and environmentally friendly methods.

“This goes against Somerset Council’s own climate emergency strategy which states that all new developments should be at least zero carbon and climate resilient. Given that Somerset Council are the landowner, this is simply inexcusable”, said Stuart Hearn from PfP.

There was criticism from the group as Somerset County Council cleared the land with bulldozers and mowers over the summer of 2022 during bird nesting season and shortly after, LiveWest had commenced their baseline ecological survey of the site.

Janet Hague from PfP commented, “The reckless clearance destroyed much of the wildlife which had developed over decades of the land being left to grow wild. This is a crucial point because all developers are now required to prove that their schemes will enhance rather than damage existing biodiversity.

“But if the land is cleared whilst the ecological survey is being carried out, developers can claim there was little wildlife there in the first place. This is what LiveWest are saying in their planning application. We’ll be making it clear to the planning committee that the clearance invalidated the ecological survey by temporarily robbing the fields of their rich and varied wildlife.”

Toby Culff added, “We are urging the people of Frome to make their voices heard and stand up to these unscrupulous plans which put profit before community, climate and ecology.”

The deadline for comments on the application is Monday 26th June – the full application can be viewed by searching 2023/0864/FUL on Somerset Council planning portal, and comments can be made at the relevant. Responses can also be emailed to planningeast@somerset.gov.uk.