A date for the inquiry has not yet been set Picture: LVA

Final decision on huge 1,700 housing plan for Frome to be decided by government

Tait ap EllisFebruary 5, 20250 Comment0

A DECISION whether to approve a huge housing plan that would significantly transform Frome was taken out of the hands of councillors at the last hour.

Members of the Somerset Council planning board east were due to debate plans to build up to 1,700 homes, a school and two care homes on the edge of Frome – known as the Selwood Garden Community Project – yesterday (February 4).

However, members were informed less than 24 hours before they were due to debate the application that it had been ‘called in’ by the government.

This means the decision will now fall to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner following a public inquiry.

Rayner has set a target of 1.5 million new homes built in the country over the next five years and has insisted councils must meet these targets.

The plans were recommended for approval by planning officers, but the planning committee said it was minded to refuse the application in December, pending sufficient evidence to support refusal were found.

Councillor Martin Dimery (Green/Frome West), who sits on the planning board, shared his dismay that the final decision on the plans was taken out of the hands of democratically elected councillors.

“This Monday, we discovered with less than 24 hours notice that the Secretary of State had ‘called in’ this application,” he said.

Cllr Dimery Picture: Martin Dimery

“Most of us didn’t know what this meant, as it has not happened in recent times. In effect, the decision has been taken out of our hands as democratically elected councillors and placed in the remit of a regional planning inspector.

“We will be consulted, only. Somerset will be represented by officers who initially recommended the plan for approval.”

Cllr Dimery has suggested the plans were called in due to pressure from central government as it looks to “get Britain building”.

“What is even more galling is that the enormous costs of these hearings will be born, in part, by the local authority,” he added.

“I have no idea how this application ended up being re-routed by government intervention. Speculating is fruitless.

“Some think it may be a good thing. My own view is that, with huge pressure being applied by the Labour government to local authorities to ‘build, build, build’ for ‘growth, growth, growth’ we may be thoroughly stitched up.

“After all the work that has gone into this I cannot help but feel cheated at not being a real part of the decision process.”

What’s in the Selwood Garden Community plan?

Land Value Alliances is looking to build the 1,700 home Selwood Garden Community between the southern edge of Frome and the A361.

30% of the homes will be affordable through a mix of social rented and shared ownership schemes – the equivalent of 510 homes.

The plans, which included a commercial space for shops, restaurants, and offices, a riverside park, two care homes, a 420-place primary school as well as an employment space, faced fierce opposition from hundreds of residents, Frome Town Council and MP for nearby West Wiltshire, Dr Andrew Murrison.

More than 500 objections to the scheme were received, including from CPRE Somerset, Friends of the River Frome, Stop SGC group, Frome Town Council, Frome Civic Society and Selwood Parish Council.

Stop SGC has repeatedly said the plans would “destroy Frome’s natural habitats and hundreds of acres of productive farmland”.

It added the development would put pressure on the “already overwhelmed infrastructure of Frome and the surrounding area” and has said the proposals exceed the number of houses the town needs.