Town council’s mixed response to “fantasy” plans for Selwood Garden Community

FROME Town Council raised a number of concerns in response to the plans for the 1,700 housing development to the south of the town, ‘Selwood Garden Community’.

Impact on traffic, an already stretched town infrastructure, the environmental impact of the development, and sustainable building standards, were some of the concerns raised at a town council meeting in October.

And local residents have had their say too – as well as sharing the concerns of  the town council, residents highlighted the shortage of middle and secondary schools to support the expansion of the town; and also questioned how a development of this size sits with Frome’s ‘climate emergency’ – highlighting the number of additional cars that will be brought into the area.

Worries were also expressed about the consultation being carried out online, which could exclude some residents from taking part. “Not everyone will have a voice,” said one concerned resident.

At the meeting, councillors were discussing their formal response to the proposal’s pre-application consultation, which has now closed. A planning application by Land Value Alliances (LVA) is expected to be made in the near future.

Whilst the council’s response neither supports or objects to the proposal – councillors highlighted that their response was an opportunity to “have their say” and help “influence” what they would like to see as part of the development.

“Frome has suffered greatly from a lack of joined up thinking when it comes to planning,” said cllr Rich Ackroyd, who explained that this was an opportunity to make a difference.

But councillors warned that the ‘Selwood Garden Community’ proposal has a long way to go and that its “vision” is “not there yet”.

“The vision needs to be far far better – the landowners will make millions – we want some of that money to be spent supporting the town,” said cllr Paul Horton.

Whilst describing the proposal as “potentially a good way forward” for Frome to  “take on its fair share” of new housing in Mendip, cllr Andy Palmer called for more discussion about supporting infrastructure.

“I would like to see more guarantees over infrastructure and cast iron agreements within Section 106 agreements over medical facilities, schools,” said cllr Palmer. “And not just primary schools – I think we are fairly well served for primary – my biggest concern is middle school squeeze and where we are going to be when Selwood and Oakfield are full.”

The plans were also described as having “no substance’ and a  “complete fantasy” by one councillor, Scott Ward, who warned of piecemeal development of the ‘Selwood Garden Community’ if planning permission was granted by Mendip District Council.

“Once LVA take this forward and get ‘outline planning’ and start selling off the land to different developers to build in, there’s no guarantee that [the current plans] will happen,” said cllr Ward.

In agreement, cllr Anne Hills questioned how the town council could hold LVA’s “feet to the fire” and be reassured that the plans will be delivered as proposed.

Cllr Hills said, “My biggest concern is that if this goes ahead and then is developed in a piecemeal fashion anyway, what guarantee, if at all, do we have that the rose-tinted view that we’ve been presented by LVA ever comes to fruition in anything close to that form?”

The development’s impact on traffic in the town also sparked much resistance from the council. 

Cllr Rob Collett said that it would be “stupid to go ahead” with plans without first conducting a comprehensive review of the town’s transport infrastructure and what the impact could be.

At the meeting, the majority of councillors agreed to support the proposed consultation response written by the town council’s planning and development manager, Jane Llewellyn, which called for a “comprehensive transport assessment” of the town; raised concerns about access to the site via Little Keyford; states that there should be  “adequate” employment provision; and that buildings should be built to the “highest environmental standards”.

Councillors also agreed to authorise the  planning and development manager to “beef up” the response with comments and concerns raised at the meeting.

The vice chair of Selwood Parish Council, Chris Bennett, also took part in discussions, as the development largely falls into the parish of Selwood.

Town councillors agreed to work with Selwood Parish Council on the matter of the proposed ‘garden community’ for the benefit of Frome and the surrounding villages.