Want to make a difference in Frome’s housing crisis? Become a member of FACLT today for only £1!
Our new partnership with Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT).
The Community Land Trust (CLT) will take ownership of the site’s freehold, with Mayday taking a leasehold to complete the development. By retaining the freehold, the CLT will act as the land custodian, providing security over community ownership of the site in perpetuity.
Affordable homes freeholder
The land trust will also retain the freehold of the affordable homes on site, providing security over the social rent properties, such that they cannot be sold in the future into schemes such as ‘right to buy’. This new partnership sits alongside Mayday’s partnership with Stories, a socially responsible development company, who will act as Development Manager, running the development. The shared vision will be reinforced and cemented through the agreements between FACLT, Mayday, and Stories.
This is a vision that will put Frome first at every stage, and prioritise sustainable development.
Mayday Saxonvale, Stories, and FACLT together outside Somerset Council offices
A developer that shares our values and aspirations
John Clarke, Chair of FACLT, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Mayday, a developer that shares our values and aspirations. This partnership fulfils our core mission of providing genuinely affordable homes.
Crucially, FACLT will own the freehold of the social rented homes. This means these homes are perpetually secured for the community and are not subject to the right-to-buy. Furthermore, owning the freehold will generate income that guarantees future financial stability for FACLT; income that will enable the growth of our organisation, creating opportunities to provide much-needed genuinely affordable housing for our community and those most in need.
We believe this partnership significantly enhances the social and community value of the bid for the Saxonvale site. We urge Somerset Council’s Executive to recognise the Mayday Saxonvale bid as the best value for Frome and Somerset, delivering lasting benefits for our community.”
Prioritising sustainable development
The Mayday plan will deliver 263 homes – including at least 30% affordable homes with a target of 50%– plus 10,000+ sqm of commercial and community space, new public spaces, a riverside park & playground, a hotel and a lido.
Bringing our local community land trust into our proposal for Saxonvale will solidify our commitments to putting Frome first, and provide additional security over the community ownership of the site.
We are excited about what this will mean for FACLT, enabling them to expand their resources and capability to deliver more for Frome.
This is just the start as we look to invite local groups and individuals to contribute to the development and enhance what it can mean for our town.
Somerset leading the way for community-led approach
As a Liberal Democrat council, we know they understand the benefits of community development, opting for community development of towns and cities in their Manifesto. Mayday Saxonvale’s development model could pave the way for genuine community-led development across the UK.
This scale of community-led development has never been achieved in the UK in a master planning context. Frome and Somerset could lead the way and initiate a better way of building in our communities.
Join FACLT now
Want to make a difference in Frome’s housing crisis? Become a member of FACLT today for only £1!
Your support helps build more affordable homes and strengthens our community. As a member, you’ll have a say in our projects like Saxonvale and help shape the future of housing in Frome. Membership is open to anyone locally who supports FACLT aims and wants to be part of creating a better future for our community.