Fate of Saxonvale site to be decided at Frome meeting

Mayday Saxonvale has been seeking for several years to implement its vision for the brownfield site, which includes more than 260 homes, commercial space, a cultural centre and a lido.

Attempts to redevelop the site have been subject to numerous delays, with Somerset Council's executive committee voting in late-October 2025 to put the land on the open market after Mayday Saxonvale struggled to come up with the necessary funds to acquire it.

Mayday Saxonvale officially submitted its bid to purchase the site in mid-July, and as of Wednesday (August 5) has raised nearly £923,000 through its community share scheme, which runs until the end of September.

Somerset Council has now publicly promised that a final decision on the winning bidder will be taken by its executive committee in Frome on Wednesday, September 23.

The council has separately moved around £1.8m to its reserves to meet any costs associated with the fire at the regeneration site in early-July.

The Mayday Saxonvale proposal includes the following elements:

• 263 homes, of which at least 30 per cent will be affordable (with a stretch target of 50 per cent)
• At least 10,000 sq m of commercial and community space, including an enterprise centre and a "community kitchen"
• A cultural centre within the 'western warehouse'
• A riverside park and children's play area
• Improved cycle links between the site and Vicarage Street
• The realignment of the A362 Garsdale roundabout and £246,000 towards improving the Gorehedge junction
• New public open spaces
• A hotel and spa
• A lido
• Nearly £828,000 for improving local schools

Masterplan for the Mayday Saxonvale regeneration scheme in Frome (Image: Mayday Saxonvale)

Brigid Clark, chair of the Mayday Saxonvale Community Benefit Society, sought assurance from the council's executive on Wednesday morning (August 5) that their bid would be considered fairly alongside proposals from more traditional developers.

She said: "In excess of 3,000 people have been actively involved in the campaign, along with Frome Town Council and local businesses.

"The reason for this passion is that the town recognises the opportunity that this site above any others represents for a meaningful regeneration of the town centre.

"They understand that the benefits of the Mayday scheme will provide a level of resilience for Frome and its community, socially and economically, that is otherwise unachievable.

"As a community-led organisation, our funding structure will necessarily be different to that of traditional developers.

Brigid Clarke, chair of the Mayday Saxonvale Community Benefit Society (Image: Somerset Council)

"We are totally aligned with recent government policy, and will be drawing on the support of the community-led development funding pots and grants available to us.

"We have asked for and not yet received assurance that in its deliberations, CBRE and Somerset Council will take into account the enormous future benefits that the Mayday plan will deliver, not only for Frome but for Somerset.

"Can the committee assure us that this sale will be treated not just as a land sale, but as a once in many generations opportunity for Frome?"

On top of its community share scheme, Mayday Saxonvale has secured £1.2m from the Resonance community developers fund, which is backed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, confirmed that Mayday Saxonvale's bid was one of eight currently being considered by officers - and promised that the decision would be taken at the next meeting of the executive committee.

Councillor Mike Rigby at the Taunton housing summit (Image: Gideon Amos MP)

Mr Rigby (who represents the Lydeard division near Taunton) said: "We are in the assessment phase, having received eight bids for this site. The process has ensured any bidders that wished to come forward have been able to do so.

"In order to give maximum flexibility to bidders and bring forward the long-standing desire to see action on this site, we are seeking unconditional offers.

"All bids received are being fairly assessed with the support of our independent advisers CBRE, and we anticipate a positive outcome of this process being put forward to the September meeting of this executive committee, which we have committed to hold in Frome.

"Members can be assured that we will meet our best value obligations by assessing the financial offers received for the site alongside its deliverability."

While the decision on the site's future remains pending, Frome residents can invest in the community share offer from as little as £250 by www.maydaysaxonvale.co.uk.

A major fire broke out within the Saxonvale site in July 1 (Image: Tracey Moore)

If Mayday's bid is not accepted, investment applications are returned, subject to any applicable payment processing fees.

More than 100 firefighters were involved in tackling a fire within the 'western warehouse' element of the Saxonvale site in early-July, with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service subsequently confirming that the fire was being treated as "suspicious".

A report published ahead of the executive committee meeting confirmed that the council had move £1,770,000 of "unallocated contingency" funding to a new reserve to "fund any costs relating to the recent fire".

Chris Hall, the council's executive director for community, place and economy, clarified at the meeting: "At the time of making this contingency, we had no real understanding as to the level of financial contribution that would need to be made.

Chris Hall, executive director for community, place and economy (Image: Somerset Council)

"We've been going through various survey work on site - we've had health and safety surveys, we've done asbestos and air testing surveys, and we've had also had structural surveys done.

"We don't expect the real cost to be anything like that.

"We do have insurance for the site; there is an excess on the premium associated with that insurance. Depending on the nature of the work required, we may be able to call upon this contingency should it be necessary."