How can Frome solve its social housing crisis?

THE withdrawal of plans to build up to 30 affordable houses across Frome has sparked debate in the community about how to solve the desperate need for social rented homes in the town. 

Supporters of the Fair Homes Project – which proposed to build houses on eight green space sites – have described the decision to withdraw the plans as ‘disappointing’, highlighting that the voices of those most likely to benefit from the project “were generally not heard”. 

The project aimed to help those in need of “genuinely affordable homes”, and according to the Fair Homes Project  – a partnership between Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT), Selwood Housing Group, and Mendip District Council –  there are more than 500 households looking to find affordable housing in the town, with demand “likely to increase”.  

Their plans were withdrawn following strong objections from communities neighbouring the earmarked green spaces, who raised concerns about losing spaces used by residents young and old for recreation purposes. 

But whilst community groups celebrated the decision, other residents were not so happy. 

“This is not a matter for celebration,” said local resident Wally Harbert, “it is a victory of the haves over the have nots and diminishes us all.” 

Local couple, John and Ingrid Careswell, who live near one of the sites dropped from the housing plan said, “It seemed a small sacrifice to be prepared to give up one of those spaces for much-needed fair rent accommodation, instead of holding onto it at all costs. Frome prides itself on being a generous and caring town. By all means protect green spaces, but protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged too – and that may require some small sacrifices, for the common good.” 

Director of FACLT, and Mendip District and Somerset County councillor, John Clarke said, “The voices of those most likely to benefit from the project were generally not heard. For example, the voice of the mother sharing her relatives’ home, in a bedroom with three young children and on the housing waiting list for three years!  

“The voice of the mother and daughter needing to move away from Frome – and consequently from their family and friends networks – because of the lack of genuinely affordable homes for local people. The voices of those most vulnerable and most in need of a home were not heard.” 

Local organisation, Fair Housing for Frome, has welcomed the debate, describing it as a “crucial” conversation. 

Chair of Fair Housing for Frome, Andy Jones, told Frome Times, “The proposals opened up an important debate on the social housing situation in Frome. Let’s not forget that there are around 500 households desperately waiting on the housing register in our town.” 

But whilst the plans have been withdrawn, the Fair Homes Project team say that they will continue to “seek to improve the supply of much-needed social housing” in Frome. 

Chair of FACLT, Roger Saunders added, “FACLT regret that we, with our partners Mendip Council and Selwood Council, were not able to realise the objectives of the Fair Homes Project; to create up to 30 social rented homes, guaranteed to remain affordable in perpetuity, of exemplary design, available to Frome families in desperate housing need. 

“At the outset of the project, we made it clear that we were committed to full and respectful consultation with residents affected by the proposals. The first phase of that consultation took place over a 3-week period ending 11th June. Once we and our partners considered the responses, we concluded that the feedback from local residents showed such strong anxiety and opposition to the proposals that there was little point in taking them into the intended second phase of consultation. 

“While FACLT very much understands and supports members of our community who wish to protect precious green spaces, we are also here to support the many members of our community in need of genuinely affordable homes.  

“There are currently over 500 households on Homefinder Somerset who are in need of social housing in Frome. Many people who have grown up in Frome and have family, friends and work here are having to move away, or pay a huge proportion of their incomes on rent in the private sector, or live in insecure and inadequate accommodation.  

“Providing genuinely affordable homes for local people in housing need is our core mission and FACLT’s board of directors and supporters have spent the past two years searching for land where there is a realistic prospect of starting to get these homes built. We shall continue this search.”