Plans to create a new design guide aimed at protecting historic shop fronts in Frome have been approved by the town council.
Councillors voted to spend £8,000 on developing a Shop Front Design Guide to help prevent historic shop frontages from being damaged or replaced with poor quality or unsustainable materials. The guide would mainly apply to listed buildings and properties within the conservation area in and around the town centre.
The proposal was agreed at a Full Council meeting on 14th January, with the majority of councillors backing the scheme. One councillor voted against it.
Officers said the need for a local guide has become more pressing following concerns from residents about the cumulative visual impact of ‘insensitive alterations’ to shop fronts, particularly in historic areas. These include the loss of traditional features and the use of bulky or poor-quality materials linked to corporate branding.
Frome Town Council’s Planning and Development Manager Jane Llewellyn said the design guide was ‘not about uniformity’, it is about ‘respecting the old shop fronts and making any shop fronts that come forward more appealing.’
However, whilst most councillors welcomed the scheme, Cllr Lisa Merryweather objected to it, saying it is ‘not right for residents of a very diverse town’ and asked how the plans would ensure that all residents felt welcome.
She said, “I can’t help but also raise the fact that design is about communication and it tells people who is welcome and who may not feel welcome. We have some really beautifully well-designed shop fronts that are very inviting and engaging, for me. That does not mean that those shop fronts are inviting and engaging for all of the residents within Frome.
“It’s difficult for me because I would love to make it picture perfect but that is not right for residents of a very diverse town with maybe 20% at times suffering with some economic disadvantage.”
Funding for the project will come from Discover Frome earmarked reserves. During the meeting, Frome Times asked how spending £8,000 on the guide would benefit residents.
Cllr Nick Dove said the council does not “spend £8,000 lightly” and pointed to letters, emails and social media comments from residents concerned about the appearance of the town centre. He added that improving the town centre is one of the council’s strategic aims.
If adopted, the guide would be used as a Supplementary Planning Document, meaning it would be a material consideration for Somerset Council when deciding planning applications for new or altered shop fronts and signage. Final adoption would require consultation with stakeholders and the public.
The council also noted that shop front design guides had been adopted in other areas including Bath, Yeovil, Chard and Chippenham.
Pictured: Cheap Street Frome
