Somerset Council’s executive committee voted on September 23 to sell the Saxonvale site, a key brownfield area in the centre of Frome, to Newcore Capital. This decision has sparked concern due to a possible obligation to repay £3.6 million in funding previously granted by Homes England.
Newcore Capital is expected to present its development proposals for the site in the coming months, accompanied by planned public consultations prior to submitting a formal planning application.
However, four Frome councillors have formally requested that the sale decision be ‘called in’ and reviewed by the appropriate scrutiny committee. This step aims to ensure that the executive committee adhered to proper procedures during the decision-making process.
The call-in was initiated on September 30 by Councillors Adam Boyden (Liberal Democrat, Frome North), Shane Collins (Green, Frome East), Martin Dimery (Green, Frome West), and Dominic Ellison (Green, Frome West).
The scrutiny committee will be asked to consider five primary questions regarding the decision:
The councillors emphasise that they are not accusing anyone of misconduct but seek to establish clarity and confirm that the decision was soundly based.
Once an industrial landmark, the 12-acre Saxonvale site has been derelict for decades. Councillor Ellison highlighted its importance, stating: “Saxonvale is an exceptionally important site for Frome, and it is essential that people can have confidence in the way such a significant decision has been made.”
He added that the call-in does not seek to favour any developer but to verify whether the executive committee had all necessary information, understood the council’s legal options, and properly assessed financial and other risks.
A key concern is the risk that the council might have to repay £3.6 million of Homes England funding. The councillors want to understand how this risk was evaluated and its impact on the sale’s financial viability.
Other issues for clarification include the council’s legal avenues, how regeneration prospects were assessed, the comparison of financial offers, and the governance of professional advice provided to the council.
They noted that if the scrutiny committee finds the process was sound, this would provide assurance. Conversely, if important information or advice was lacking or inadequately considered, the executive should have the chance to reconsider the decision with the correct information.
Should the scrutiny committee identify any such deficiencies, the councillors request a recommendation that the matter return to the executive committee for further consideration.
Eight bids were submitted for the Saxonvale site. Among them was the social enterprise Mayday Saxonvale, which proposed over 260 homes, commercial spaces, a cultural centre, and a lido.
At the time Newcore was selected, Somerset Council’s development lead Mike Rigby called it “an important milestone for the future of the site,” expressing confidence that it would lead to positive outcomes for Frome.
He acknowledged the strong feelings in the town and the years of local efforts to regenerate the site. Mr Rigby said the council shared this ambition and, after trying various approaches including a community-led scheme, focused on bids that demonstrated financial robustness, certainty of funding, managed risks, and upheld the statutory duty to deliver best value.
He explained that any future proposals for Saxonvale would be subject to the planning process, which involves community and stakeholder engagement. Mr Rigby looked forward to collaborating with Frome Town Council, residents, businesses, and Newcore to unlock the site’s potential and realise the long-awaited regeneration for the town.