Help shape the future of Frome
We are a not-for-profit social enterprise, with the sole objective of delivering a sustainable plan for Saxonvale, governed by the needs, priorities, and aspirations of our town.
Your feedback and comments are essential for us to deliver the right plan for Frome.
Please leave a comment below on our Master Plan for Saxonvale.
As a current resident of the Old Printworks Acorn development I can tell you that the care of the residents is not Acorn’s main priority. The commercial space here is not affordable for local businesses & has therefore been occupied by National chains. I would urge the committee to speak to the residents to see if they are satisfied to further support the Mayday plan.
Further to my comment below, it could also host a cooperative where all the local market gardens/growers/food retailers can meet together
Hi,
There isn’t a need for an outdoor swimming pool – we have a pool in Frome which is kept in very good condition and facilities are clean at the Sports Centre. This needs using more and the precious space taken up by it in this development could be used for something else. For the number of days a year it would be used, the space could be put to far better use.
I am very keen to see as much space as possible made available for local businesses to rent/buy. We need to better serve the skills and creativity of the local community so they don’t need to leave the area to find work.
Frome Food Network (created by Frome Town Council and community members) believe it is very important to create a distribution/processing site in the centre of Frome for all it’s market garden growers and local/surrounding food business/farms. It could be a central hub for supplying local This would be an incredible service to Frome.
I work with a local charity The Pod. I would like to see community use space included in the plan. Mayday has this. There is so little opportunity for community groups to access premises in the town due to increased property and rental prices. If this does not get included in the Saxonvale plan it will be lost opportunity for real social change and support for the disadvantaged and marginalized in our community.
Use this opportunity wisely. The land which bridges the town centre with large residential areas has to do just that. Offer a blend of commercial, community, social and housing provision.
I feel that Mayday are at least grasping that, where Mendip and Acorn have failed.
Your plan for the SAXONVALE site is an impressive piece of artwork and if it could be delivered I for one, having seen the site go from a thriving industrial site in the sixties to what it is today, would be a very pleased man. However having read into the detail I am not convinced that the team of MAYDAY SAXONVALE and STORIES are the ones to deliver the town a 75 million pound project like this one. My concerns are with STORIES as the development company. They have only been in existence for a short time and from there own web site have to date not completed any developments in their own right. No doubt each member has worked elsewhere and with other people and companies but working with each other as STORIES is very new and as I mentioned above has yet to built anything. The two developments on their Website are all just ‘pre planning’ not one piece of information about any completed projects.Frome has gone through too many public consultations meetings and new ideas over the years and its all history repainting itself with more delays and more objections from people with differing views on what should be built. We need a developer with a proven track record, who can show they can deliver something solid and tangible rather than just fine drawings and wishful ideas. I admire your vision and ethics but alas I cannot support your application as there is no proven track record that your TEAM can indeed deliver to Frome. I would urge everybody to read through STORIES own website there is a lot about visions, values, family holidays and tracking in South America.but no actual finished projects that would give confidence to enable me to support your application.
With the climate crisis bearing down on us, especially the young, we need a dynamic shift to help the younger generation get into the town centre, to work, live and breathe new life into the town without the excessive use of cars. Frome has the potential to draw in plenty of talented focused young individuals that will shape our lives and the development that MayDay saxonvale are offering encompasses this to some degree. Green spaces are also at a premium and I see this area, once an industrial landscape, to be a clean air environment with reduced traffic flow from high emission vehicles.
This is an amazing initiative. Our communities deserves well being, trees and thoughtful use of space.
Best of luck with the project. Do you know when the final decision is made?
I’ve only just looked at your wonderful vision for Saxonvale development and think it is truly inspiring. I hope that Mendip see sense and recognise that your vision is a perfect one for Frome. Thank you for all your hard work. I appreciate everything that you are doing.
Your plan is quite simply so much better for Frome. I hope Mendip Council will take their nose out of the feed bag and see sense
Mayday Saxonvale is common sense; there could hardly be a more rational and beneficial plan. The more we know about the Acorn Property Group’s plan, the more we gasp with disbelief. It is appalling on so many levels.
I was somewhat shocked to learn from your plan that it included a new build St John’s school. I live right next to the current St John’s school in Christchurch Street East and now have major concerns about the future of the old school. I cannot support your plan for Saxonvale until I know what the future plan for the old school site is. I share an 50 yard boundary with that school hence my concern.
Good luck with the Campaign we need this to be amended for the benefit of Frome and not just the economic case of Mendip District Council who have had a vested interested in this development.
Mayday Saxonvale looks brilliant in all the right ways of living, and for the future. The Acorn one by contrast lacks vision, in fact everything is carrying on in the same old boring groove – profit before quality of life. I see more health problems ahead with Acorn. I totally support Mayday Saxonvale.
This really is a no-brainer. The Acorn proposals leave so much to be desired and by contrast, the Mayday proposals are inspiring and totally in tune with the character of the town and its needs. I really feel this is a make or break moment for Frome. I really hope all members of Frome Town Council will recognise this and support the Mayday plans.
Having visited the exhibition last weekend I would like to offer my support to the revised plans drawn up by Mayday.
The Acorn development is an example of yet more ill considered housing crammed into an important town centre site. So many small towns have gone along these lines and as a result are characterless and unattractive.
The alternative plans take into consideration planting, large community spaces and venues, better parking and importantly a higher percentage of affordable housing.
Mayday plan is just inspirational…far and away visionary and deserves all our support.
Can’t bear the thought of yet another high density box housing scheme trashing such a valuable space that could offer so much more to the town.
Are we really in the 21st century? Or back in a ghastly 70’s municipal vandalism of brown envelopes and profiteering developers with planners in their pockets ?
Please god if there is one, don’t let Mendip take the dirty money.
I have lived and worked around Frome since the 1980’s. Seen the development of major residential sites of Stonebridge and beyond. Now with the site located by ASDA. The town still exists with is original shopping and enterprise facilities despite the massive increase in residents.
Frome is “on the up” as a choice location to live. Those moving into the town with assets to purchase are driving up prices and locals out. We NEED affordable housing to avoid dormitory status.
The Mayday Saxonvale plans clearly benefit the communities of Frome in every possible way – housing, jobs, a new school – and it’s a non-profit organisation. If Mendip have their way and go with Acorn, then Frome residents will seriously lose out – but Mendip are thinking in terms of profit, so they will choose Acorn. This will be to the detriment of every community in Frome. Keep up the fight!
The Mayday development plan in the centre of town looks at infrastructure as well as building, keeping and modernising the quirks that make Frome the place it is
I love and fully support the plans put forward by Mayday Saxonvale. Every part of it is interesting, practical and helps towards the needs of the community. A lot of town centers have become soulless and uninteresting and I believe that this would be a great model that other towns would want to follow.
Hello
I find these latest ideas and plans for saxonvale incredibly more pleasing than all previous.
I live on Christchurch st east, which is already become a very busy road. The small roundabout at the top of Vicarage st is already a difficult one, also impossible to enlarge. Vicarage st already has difficulties when a delivery lorry need
Traffic lights would make a complete nightmare there. Solid traffic all day.
In my view, much more should be made of the river in Frome and the Saxonvale development is an opportunity to open up the riverside to Frome residents and visitors alike. This really could be one of Frome’s USPs. The riverside should incorporate green space, trees, cafes and restaurants. A pleasant place to sit and enjoy the river surrounded by nature.
Love the May Day plan it is good and for the people of Frome, Acorn are not customer focused and although they believe that they are acting in Frome’s best interest they are not, 17.5% affordable housing is not good enough for the needs of From neither should Mendip accept this as it falls below their threshold of 30%. We need something that suits us as an overall package
This excellent plan will provide the people of Frome with all it needs in a sensitive, well planned and superb extension to the town centre. Climate change has been taken into consideration, essential for our future. Moving St Johns school onto the site into a better environment will benefit the children. The Acorn/Mendip plan would use another route onto the site adjacent to St Johns school, increasing the traffic pollution. It is a well known fact that this is dangerous for children’s health.
Hello. I think most of your ideas and plans are amazing. My kids, for instant are very excited about the Lido option. As we only live on Rivers Reach, this would be amazing for us to have on our doorstep. My only concern is how much of the housing element would be Social housing? We brought our house in 2006 and the estate has already been extended with the newer development. What is the difference between affordable housing and social housing? Many thanks.
I really like that there is a new school in these plans. The current St John’s school is not fit for purpose and how we manage to teach in it is remarkable. Having a new school also takes into account the new people who will be moving to the area. Currently there are no plans for a school in the other development so where are the children going to go?? There isn’t any more capacity at St. John’s. I like the idea of a community recreation place such as the lido.
What a well thought out plan offering great community amenities. We live a few minutes walk from the site and would love to see accessible green space and amenities on our doorstep.
Wonderful to see the alternative plans from Andrew Kirby Architects. A sustainable and thoughtful approach with a real investment in the future for Frome, unlike the unimaginative build them and forget about them scheme from Acorn.
I originally objected to the Acorn consultation proposal in 2019 and was dismayed at the apparent failure for public opinion to be properly taken into account. Ultimately, Saxonvale funding is public money and public accountability must be the absolute priority. We have a collective duty of care to lay aside our short-term, potentially personal interests and view and assess this opportunity for the generations to come. We will not get a second chance.
Much of my objection to the Acorn proposal was due to the inappropriate development mix. Inadequate retail / employment space, inadequate social and affordable housing were blatant failings, which appeared to be driven by the short-term financial benefit of saleable housing (probably as second homes / rental income opportunities) and rates income, let alone the abysmal aesthetic and abject failure to consider the development as part of the whole central space within the town.
The Mayday proposal has at its core a “not-for-profit” ethos, which simply means less developer profit and therefore potentially more value for money in the development, provided full due diligence is exercised. Where traditional JV arrangements with traditional developers may appear to offer experience and therefore reduced risk, I am fully confident in the skill set of the Mayday proposers and their ability to work with MDC and deliver this proposal to the highest standard. I’ll take their personal, long-term investment and commitment to Frome over a corporations self interests every time.
It is clear to see that the Mayday proposition has been developed with a true understanding of the essence and culture of Frome. Ultimately, capital investment providing amenity is about developing assets that PEOPLE will utilise, foster and grow. The proposals are in keeping with Frome’s historical base. The proposals presented reflect the societal value of residents, and it is these values and this history that brought me to Frome, empowered me to create a business which employs 8 people with aspirations to grow further. Business, and in particular the retail sector is vital to the future success of Frome as a Market Town. My current and future staff need affordable housing and amenity. Frome needs to continue to attract visitor income, which if achieved and properly assessed will outstrip traditional short-sighted, short-term financial assessments.
You do not have to travel far to visit traditional towns that are in decline due to the changing needs of society. Many of these towns evidence ineffective capital investment in recent decades reflecting a failure to understand the customer and their changing needs. The Acorn proposal does nothing to ensure our medium and long term prosperity, whereas this outline proposal is stimulating, both to me as a resident of the town, and equally to me as a successful business man looking at the long-term prosperity of Frome.
I commend this proposal, and I reiterate my objection to the Acorn proposal.
So good to see an alternative to the supposed ‘done deal’ with no consultation that acorn properties and mendip put forward. This is something much better for the town with a lot more affordable housing and better use of space for local business and green credentials.
I am in favour of the Mayday Saxonvale proposal as oppose to the Acorn plans but with all such developments I am concerned about elements I consider essential that seem never to be discussed.
The provision of sufficient additional school places for new inhabitants of Frome.
Similarly the provision of more medical facilities.
The provision of additional public transport.
The impact of more traffic on our town.
The additional pressure on the water treatment plant, that is already overstretched and far too frequently voids untreated material into the environment.
Lastly I consider that ALL new buildings (housing, office, industrial and community) should be fitted with a Photovoltaic system, the additional cost is minimal but the benefit to our carbon zero aims valuable.
What a well thought out plan offering great community amenities. We live a few minutes walk from the site and would love to see accessible green space and amenities on our doorstep.
Well done Mayday! Really like these elements: Tiny houses, covered market, keeping the trees, enhancing the water features in the site. Overall, a much better plan than the current Saxonvale plan – But what are the chances of it being accepted, when the return on the site will be much less than official plan?
Hi there, I am a food business owner currently based in Bristol, but am looking to move myself and the business to Frome in the next year. I absolutely love the Mayday Saxonvale vision. It is precisely the kind of vibrant creative community I want to see and contribute to. My question is about the commercial spaces, will be available will be to let or to buy? Keep up the great work! All the best
joelbaxter@hotmail.com
Hi there, we are battling with Mendip at the moment and trying to get them not to build on Esthill Field. We have put in a complaint to the Interim Environmental Governance Secretariat within Defra asserting that MDC have broken environmental laws. Might be worth doing the same thing for you?
Acorn’s planning application is due to be decided this week – so I’ve written the following letter to my local councillors Damon Hooton, Helen Kay, Shane Collins and Helen Sprawson-White
Dear Damon, Helen, Shane and Helen,
I m writing to you as my past and current representatives on the district council and as friends and people whose judgement I have learned to trust.
I understand that the MDC planning board will be considering the Acorn application for the development of Saxonvale in the near future. This will be the most important decision that the District Council has made for decades and will determine the future of the town centre of Frome for ever.
It is absolutely crucial that the right decision is made, but the question that needs to be answered by the Frome community, Mendip DC councillors and especially those on the planning board, is for whose benefit should the decision be made?
Seven years ago the Carley Trust was set up, with the support of Frome Town Council, to apply for a Right To Build Order for the site. I was a director of this Trust and although the application fell at the final hurdle, it brought forth helpful collaborations as well as the excellent Frome Prospectus. It gave me considerable insight into the problems and the potential of the site.
I was therefore delighted when Mendip DC overcame one of the largest of the problems when they bought the parts of the site that were owned by Notts Industries and Terramond. This acquisition opened the way to a unified plan for the whole site, which was the objective of the Right To Build application. Surely this would enable the site owners to create a plan for the site to be developed for the benefit of the community, instead of the benefit of the shareholders of the companies that had owned the site.
But the application from Acorn that the planning board will consider has met with universal rejection from the whole of the Frome community. On just about every aspect of the application from aesthetic issues to affordable housing provision, from environmental impact to layout and traffic issues, from building heights to proportions of usage mix, the comments from community organisations and individuals find faults and shortcomings to local needs, and are objections without one single supporting comment out of more than 240 contributions.
How has this come about? The answer seems to be that MDC councillors have put the profitable return to the land owners and the development company above community benefit. And this, then, answers my first question. Mendip District Councillors will have placed the interest of the council above that of the community they were elected to serve.
This will be a massive problem for councillors and community.
If councillors find that they are forced to make a decision of approval when there is universal opposition from their electing community, they must provide us with evidence as to why they have made that decision. They must be transparent in their workings.
Not so long ago Mendip declared a Climate Emergency, and this obliges the Council to take action to ensure that they and our community does everything possible to reduce our carbon emissions. A huge infrastructure project like Saxonvale, could and must be undertaken with this emergency as a main consideration, ensuring nothing be built there that is under the highest possible energy performance standards. The aspirational approach of the Acorn Resource Efficiency Statement must be upgraded to a cast-iron undertaking to comply with all aspects of the Frome Neighbourhood Plan’s OnePlanet Living framework as well as Mendip’s Local Plan to reduce carbon emissions.
So not only must the board ask Acorn to radically change their application, but Mendip DC must change their own requirements for the revenue that they targeted for their investment in the site, making the benefit to our community the primary objective and outweighing any need for profit to the council. If it becomes clear that in order to achieve this community oriented scheme, the council has to suffer a shortfall to the purchase and ongoing development costs, then they should find ways to raise capital from other sources. Would the Frome community be able to make a substantial contribution? The purchase of Whatcombe Fields and the funds raised for Community Energy schemes by FRECO set encouraging precedents.
I urge you to reject this application and to give all your energies to finding a way through the difficulties of very challenging circumstances to a far better solution than that the Acorn plans offer us.
Very best wishes
Tim Cutting
The acorn plan is primarily a business project. At the heart of it is not the towns well being but the need to make a profitable business. This benefits the shareholders of the business not necessarily the town as a whole. A social enterprise has only the aim of finding out what locals need and that profits the people who inhabit the space. There is no other ethical choice now we are in a pandemic but to chose to let the people of frome make this space amazing and to make us happy and give us hope by stopping all the quarrels. Councils need to start putting the well being of the towns inhabitants first. Building lots of houses serves one problem but we all know well being is not just about having a roof over your head, it’s about community feeling, a feeling that little was harmed by making this space and that the environment benefitted alongside local business and the community. This need no longer be a dispute – it’s obvious a social enterprise benefits far more people at a time when we need this feel good information that our town is safe from the terrible mistakes in other towns. And it’s completely obvious a development based on a social enterprise will grow and thrive and contribute to the well being and balance of the town and will therefore be sustainable where as signing to just do the same thing again and again when it’s not working to solve social problems makes no real sense. If you just build housing like acorns plan then the cost of policing and supporting the social problems that arise from putting people to live in meaningless environments will almost certainly exceed the cost of a good social enterprise not just financially but in every possible way. The people with the decision making power need now to ask themselves why we are still fighting for this? What harm are they doing acting like these colonial powers throughout the world who disempower local people by taking away control of their own environment. If it has caused so much harm globally why would we continue to do this locally. This is a very straight forward ethical decision- chose capitalism and a big business or the citizens of frome. We are definitely capable of making this a great model for new developments. I work in mental health something that is extremely important right now. Frome needs to know this is ok and safe right now, not feel threatened by big developers who will make us feel the town is being taken over and not cared for. Thank you for reading my comment.
Frome needs more affordable housing. I for one strongly support the Mayday proposal. I thought we did things a little differently and were more open minded in Frome? If you look at the housing development by Asda it’s indistinguishable from the bland sprawling developments around Trowbridge, Melksham and Hilperton. More profit for the developers though as presumably they will command a higher price in Frome, particularly as such a low percentage will be “affordable.”
Very short sighted and not what I expected in Frome.
The proposed development by Acorn does not seem to sit well with Frome , there seems to be strange factors in play. The scheme seems designed to maximise profit and focussed on houses of an unattractive design. Certainly agree with others that Frome needs more social housing and amenities. The Mayday Saxonvale proposals seem to be a far more attractive and given how many years the redevelopment of this site has been delayed think it is worthwhile taking a bit more time to achieve a good long term result.
This plan uses the land is a much better way for the community … and considers all the elements in detail
We have received a copy of one of the letters sent to a District Councillor. They gave us permission to publish it here anonymously.
Dear Cllr Carswell
I am writing to you as Portfolio Holder for Economic Development regarding the importance of the Mayday Saxonvale campaign for the future prosperity of Frome. I support the
new alternative masterplan designed by Andrew Kirby architects for the landowner and wish for your support in conscientiously considering this opportunity to make a significant
improvement to the scheme by the developers, Acorn, currently before the Council.
I understand you are not our District Councillor, however in recognition of the the significance of your portfolio position we want you to ensure that if or when Acorn’s proposals for Saxonvale come to Planning Board they do NOT get your support and that you will make a stand against the proposals on behalf of the residents of Frome and all this development can signify to the prosperity of the wider District.
Local authorities across the country are facing stringent planning issues regarding the regeneration of our towns to accommodate rising population by increasing land allocation for housing. You will be aware of some of the issues arounds the proposed Selwood Garden Community and the pressures that this will place on existing local infrastructure provision. Experience shows us that development led by national house builders regularly fails to deliver a fully integrated development that enriches the quality of life for existing and future residents through Planning obligations such as S106 & community infrastructure levy. Frome has shown a different approach through the vibrancy of Community-led initiatives. An initiatives such as that posed by the Mayday Saxonvale scheme, were to be applied to this important town centre development, either in partnership with appropriately selected housing companies or by forming a not-for-profit development company could deliver a multi functional development to benefit the town, its residents and the wider population of the District. It would also signify the forward thinking of the District Council in promoting a sustainable future as part of the route map to Green Recovery.
I call on you to support of the Mayday vision for Saxonvale by calling a halt to the inappropriate and undemocratic scheme currently before you and fellow members. Members a golden opportunity to support and participate in a ground. breaking community initiative that, if seized, would provide inspiration for many market towns all across the country facing similar challenging issues. By supporting the Vision for Saxonvale Mendip District Councillors could be a champion for sustainable development and setting a bright example, through true community engagement to show leadership in how the Green Recovery could be enabled through our market towns to not just survive but to thrive and help drive the economy.
I trust, in your leadership role, you will understand the wide ranging importance of the Saxonvale site on a sustainable economic future for our town and its citizens and that you will be able to speak up against Acorn Development’s flawed and ill thought through development proposals and call for their scheme to be rejected when it is placed before members for the benefit of the District. Furthermore, I trust you will be able to support the principle of truly sustainable development on the Saxonvale site and how the District and Community can work together for the good of all.
I look forward to hearing from you once you have considered this opportunity with your members.
Your sincerely
The new plans look so much better than the old, however they are very ambitious and possibly expensive so I am not sure how achievable they are, basically where is the money to come from. Its hard to envisage the whole thing as a finished piece and I imagine it would take some years to bring it to its final conclusion. The idea of a Lido is lovely but at the end of the day this in England, it gets cold a lot, I still think a larger more ambitious leisure facility would be better, closer to the centre of the town it would get much more use as long as it isn’t filled up with swimming classes as the current leisure centre is making it impractical for other swimmers to get a look in. Apart from that this is a vast improvement thank goodness, let’s hope we can get it through.
I have joined this forum hoping to contribute as much as possible.
I have lived in Frome for twenty years and seen major changes in the town in its, structure and community life, of born and bred residents and all the newcomers with a considerable number from London!
My home overlooks the town and any development will be on my viewpoint, so I hope it is visually acceptable.
The area should become in my opinion, the central hub, for residential, internal markets,start up studios/workshops etc. and a community park.
The public consultation I hope ensures that it is not developed for the maximum profit of the owners which include Mendip District Council. but for the community of Frome.
I strongly support the proposal for relocating St John’s School. The Saxonvale site is still with close proximity of the church and is central within the town and catchment area. I believe the proposed new site would open up more park and (accessible) stride options for families and accordingly would have the potential effect of reducing school traffic along Christchurch Street East. The current school building and site cannot adequately meet the needs of the children and staff due to the age And style of the building and the limited outdoor space.
With regard to housing I agree that this should be multi-generational with some affordable housing and provision for people with additional needs. I believe there should be level walking routes into town, suitable for wheelchair use. Frome has several new sprawling housing estates – they have little character. When within them, you could be in any town. It would be nice if the housing and Saxonvale development generally could maintain some of Frome’s character and identity. The danger otherwise is that aspects of Frome’s character and identity would be lost and this would be a shame.
I believe that the aesthetic of the development should be broadly outwardly in keeping with the older stone and listed properties in the vicinity, insofar as possible but with a ‘modern edge’ when required, e.g. the school building.
I would be extremely supportive of a new school being built on the site.
Love the idea of the different zones so you can eliminate those that are supported from those that may be contentious. Like the community feel of the area. Only thing that jarred with me was the Hamam. I think in its place should be a community fitness space with a stage so it could be used for classes in the day/evening and also small music/poetry/ drama performances or talks. There are not many performance places in Frome that are big enough to accommodate an audience of say 100/200.