Developers have made a strong case for the Selwood Garden Community (SGC) as the only viable solution to the pressing housing needs in Frome and eastern Somerset. The public inquiry into the construction of 1,700 new homes on agricultural land between the B3090 Marston Lane and the A361 began on August 5, highlighting the project’s potential to transform the area.
The SGC plans include not only housing but also commercial spaces, two care homes, a local centre with shops and a possible medical facility, a primary school, and extensive public open spaces and sports amenities. Barristers representing the consortium emphasized the urgent need for housing in the region and argued that no other plans offer comparable benefits or scale within the required timeframe.
Somerset Council has adopted a neutral position, acknowledging it can neither fully endorse nor oppose the proposal. However, the council is committed to securing financial contributions to support local services if the development proceeds.
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The inquiry opened at the Shape Mendip campus in Shepton Mallet, with moments of technical difficulty as Paul Tucker KC presented the case on behalf of the SGC landowners. He underscored the country’s ongoing housing crisis, stating that government targets remain unmet and the existing Somerset Local Plan holds little weight due to its early development stage—public consultation is not expected until spring 2026, with final adoption projected for 2029.
Mr. Tucker highlighted the SGC’s significant advantages, such as providing affordable housing tailored for local needs, creating new employment opportunities, extensive public green spaces, and improving highways, particularly the A36 corridor connecting Frome to Bath. He noted Frome’s role as the district’s primary growth center and stressed that no smaller settlements in the district can deliver housing at this necessary scale or on the required timeline.
Addressing sustainability, Mr. Tucker pointed to the development’s “vision-led approach” to transport, including plans to extend the 30 bus route to reduce private car dependence. He also remarked that landscape impacts would be highly localized, a rare outcome for a project of this size.
Concluding his statement, Mr. Tucker emphasized the clear benefits of the scheme and urged for its prompt approval. He interpreted the council’s neutral stance as tacit acknowledgment that no better alternative exists.
Representing Somerset Council, barrister Killan Garvey clarified the council’s role, explaining that decision-making authority lies with the Secretary of State due to the application being called in by central government. He reiterated that the council’s neutrality should not be taken as support or opposition and committed to assisting with the Section 106 agreement if the project moves forward.
The inquiry is set to continue for three more days this week, culminating with a full-day site visit on August 12. A final recommendation will be submitted to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner MP by autumn, who is expected to make a decision within six months.