Local councillors and Frome’s MP Anna Sabine have expressed their ‘disappointment’ after the Selwood Garden Community plans were ‘called in’ by the government, meaning the final decision will now be made at a national level, rather than by Somerset Council.
The Selwood Garden Community application includes 1,700 homes, two care homes, 6.7 hectares of employment land, a mixed-use local centre, a primary school and open spaces. After lengthy deliberations in December, county councillors voted that they were ‘mindful to refuse’ the application and had been due to ratify their decision on 4th February. However, the day before this meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner issued a letter confirming the government’s intervention, just before the committee were set to make their final decision.
The decision to call in the application now removes the ability of Somerset Council to determine the outcome based on local views and interests. Instead, the future of the development now rests with a government-appointed planning inspector, who will assess the plans through a public inquiry before making a recommendation to the Secretary of State.
Somerset Councillor for Frome, Cllr Helen Kay, who is on the planning committee, said she was ‘concerned’ about the implications of the decision.
“My worst fear is that the Inquiry will be a charade and that a Labour-appointed Inspector will make an example out of us to show they are serious about building houses and will impose this urban extension onto our small town regardless of the consequences and without allocating the funds required to mitigate all the harms,” she said. “After all, Labour have little to lose in this area. I’m particularly concerned about the traffic implications, the increase in flooding and pressure on the sewage system, as well as the obvious loss of important biodiversity and recreational space. I intend to take part in the Inquiry process but I am not very hopeful.”
Local opposition to the development has been strong, with residents forming the Stop Selwood Garden Community action group to campaign against it. Their concerns include the loss of green space, lack of infrastructure, and increased traffic, particularly on the already-congested Frome bypass.
Frome Town Council also objected to the development last year, citing unresolved questions about infrastructure and a lack of affordable housing. Lead councillor for Frome, Cllr Steve Tanner, criticised the government’s intervention, saying it sidelines local voices.
“We are disappointed that the Secretary of State has called in Selwood Garden Community,” he said. “This takes a decision that will shape the future of Frome away from local people and places it in the hands of an appointed inspector.”
If the development were approved, Frome Town Council had planned to negotiate improvements through Section 106 funding – developer contributions earmarked for community benefits. With the decision now out of their hands, they fear losing that influence.
Somerset Councillor for Frome, Cllr Martin Dimery, said councillors had spent years engaging in consultations, meetings and reports, only for the process to be taken out of their hands.
“With the Labour government under pressure to build more houses, I fear Frome will be 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.”
However, Cllr Adam Boyden took a different view, arguing that the call-in could allow for a more thorough review of the plans.
“Selwood Garden Community has not gone through the rigorous Local Plan allocation process, so I am hopeful that this inquiry will provide a detailed assessment of the issues,” he said. “It offers an opportunity for Somerset Council, town and parish councils, local councillors, residents, and organisations to present their concerns before a final decision is made.”
Local MP Anna Sabine called the government’s decision ‘drastic’ and ‘unusual’, saying it undermines local democracy.
“This is not localism. Most of us recognise that Frome needs more housing, but this top-down approach is not the way to do it. Local communities and their councils understand their areas best and should be making these decisions. Frome needs affordable housing and the infrastructure to support it, like schools and doctors’ surgeries. Taking planning decisions out of local hands risks developers building what they want, unchecked and with little regard for community needs.”
Pictured: Councillors Martin Dimery, Adam Boyden and Steve Tanner
