MAYDAY Saxonvale says it has initiated further discussion with Somerset Council regarding the potential purchase of the Frome town centre site.

This follows Acorn Property Group dropping out from the process last week, despite Somerset Council selecting it as the preferred party to take on the 12-acre site after a six-hour meeting of the Executive last week, as the company said “the local community does not wish to work with Acorn”.

In a statement, Mayday Saxonvale – a not-for-profit social enterprise – said: “We are pleased to confirm we have initiated further discussions with Somerset Council regarding the potential purchase of the Saxonvale site.

“We look forward to positive and constructive discussions with the Council, and to making a community-led development in Saxonvale a reality.

“We will provide further updates on the progress of these discussions when we can.”

Somerset Council has confirmed they are in discussions with Mayday Saxonvale but would not elaborate further when asked when a decision is likely to be made about Mayday’s plans.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: “Somerset Council can confirm we are in discussions with Mayday Saxonvale and other stakeholders about potential options for the site.”

READ MORE: Shock as Acorn WITHDRAWS from Saxonvale development process

READ MORE: Mayday Saxonvale starts talks with Somerset Council over future of the site

The Saxonvale site lies in the heart of Frome town centre, bordered by the River Frome to the north, the Merchant’s Barton car park to the west, the existing housing on Vicarage Street to the south and a Lidl store to the east.

Following the decision by Acorn to withdraw from the process, Mayday said: “There is now no other developer with planning consent, or ready ‘to get spades in the ground’, but us.

“We are ready to work with the council, to purchase the site, and develop Saxonvale in the way that Frome deserves.”

To view Mayday’s plans in full, visit their website.