FROME Town Council has again objected to Mendip District Council’s plans for the Saxonvale redevelopment.
Echoing comments made in previous objections, the town council has raised concerns about the lack of commercial space proposed, and the lack of information about what the minimum amount of affordable housing provided will be.
The town council has repeatedly objected to the plans for the site since they were first submitted in May last year – and whilst the town council has described the recent amended plans as moving ‘a little closer’ to something ‘more acceptable’, the council has said that it is an application that they cannot support.
Again the town council has asked that a minimum of 30% affordable housing is confirmed for the site before the redevelopment goes ahead.
The town council said in their response, “The amended plans do not address our previous objection for the provision of 30% affordable housing for the development. The amount of affordable housing provision needs to be confirmed. Until then, our previous objection still stands.”
And again, they have also criticised the ‘inadequate provision’ of non-residential space.
The town council said, “Saxonvale is by far our best opportunity to create more work opportunity in Frome town centre and thus begin to address the problem of commuting out of town (and reduce car use).
“The current proposals appear to be providing for greater residential occupancy than commercial/ non- residential thus adding to the problem of commuting instead of beginning to address it.
“The travel plan suggests ways in which commuting could be reduced and is aspirational, but this is still missing this big point that we need to provide more work opportunity in Frome so that people don’t need to commute elsewhere.
“A minimum of 1,500m2 should be added to the non-residential offering and all of this should be available to rent or buy independently of the residential dwellings. Ideally, we would like to see Mendip District Council buy at least some of the non-residential space so that if can be let to small start-up type businesses at low cost. We need affordable business space as well as affordable homes.”
The Saxonvale site, which has lain empty and derelict for more than two decades, was bought by Mendip District Council in August 2018, with developers, Acorn Property Group, appointed to produce the masterplan for the site.
Frome Town Council is on the steering group for the redevelopment and has previously made recommendations for what should be included in the masterplan, including a minimum of 30% affordable housing and a pedestrian bridge over the river.
A date for when Mendip District Council will give a decision on the planning application is yet to be confirmed. To read the town council’s response in full, visit the website: www. frometowncouncil.gov.uk/response-to-amended-plans-for-saxonvale. To view the full application on the Mendip District Council’s website visit: https://tinyurl. com/saxonvale
