A cherished green space in Frome has been saved from a new housing development – and could soon be purchased by the local community to protect it forever.

Packsaddle Fields, which lies on Frome's northern edge, has been in public ownership since 1973 and was originally earmarked for a new school.

Somerset County Council announced in March 2022 that it was planning to sell the land off, entering into an agreement with housing association LiveWest – who put forward plans for 74 homes and a children's home on the site in March 2023.

The council's planning committee east (which handles major applications within the former Mendip area) voted to refuse planning permission for the scheme on January 7, echoing locals' desire to protect the landscape.

The community will now seek to buy the land from the council using the asset of community value bidding process, in an attempt to block any further attempts to build on there.

The committee was originally due to vote on the proposed development in November 2024, but deferred a decision due to concerns about the amount of affordable housing and the lack of contributions to local schools.

Under the revised proposals, 22 per cent of the new homes within the site would have been affordable – the equivalent of 16 properties.

LiveWest also committed to providing nearly £157,000 for local school places, along with more than £248,000 to upgrade the White Row and Beckington roundabouts between Frome and Bath.

These promises, however, did not wash with CPRE Somerset trustee Fletcher Robinson, one of several people who spoke against the plans when the council's planning committee east met in Shepton Mallet on January 7.

He said: "This area of open space has been used for recreation on a daily basis by Frome residents for 50 years, and this was formally recognised by the Council when it was listed as an asset of community value (ACV) in 2023.

"Members should consider refusing the application on the grounds of significant and demonstrable harm to the wider community through loss of the open space and the failure to provide suitable alternative open space of equivalent size.

"There is a shortage of recreational open space on this side of Frome, as confirmed in Mendip District Council's own 2012 open space survey.

"The council has so far rejected an offer from residents to buy the fields at a substantial premium to agricultural value. A refusal today would facilitate the ACV process to get this site into community ownership, where it belongs."

Since the site is designated as an ACV, the community can instigate a 12-month moratorium on any development to give them a chance to raise the funds needed to buy the land.

Toby Cullf, from campaign group People for Packsaddle, said he and other local residents had been "misled, belittled and ignored" by LiveWest and the council, describing the plans as "appalling".

He added: "You will be inflicting profound, permanent harm on our community.

"As well as being objectively awful, not sustainable, not compliant and not viable, this application is also unlawful.

"This dud application has been driven and facilitated by an element of your council which is determined to sell these fields.

"The inconvenient truth for the developer and council is that these fields are (and have been for 50 years) at the heart of our community. They are loved, and they are used daily and extensively."

Fellow campaigner Nicola Cretney added: "This development of executive houses is not what Frome needs or wants. There have been 265 objections and zero support.

"The fields were rejected in the council's own call for development sites. Do not let yourselves be misled: this stinks."

Councillor Adam Boyden (whose Frome North division includes the site) praised the "very effective" campaigning by the local community, stating that he could not in good conscience support the development.

He said: "I'm here to represent my local community. I've been a councillor for this local area for more than 13 years – I know the site and the wonderful local community that uses it.

"People have used the permissive paths and public right of way within the site and there is evidence of extensive public use.

"If this application is granted, we would lose something very special."

Councillor Dawn Denton (who represents the same division) added: "Everyone here today would prefer a field to a housing development, but we are up against a government whose current motto is 'build, build, build'.

"I know that we can find a way to show that this development harms the community, the town of Frome and the wildlife more than the 74 houses will benefit the town and the wider area."

Councillor Claire Sully (Mendip South) agreed, stating: "I'm disappointed with this application and the council's position; my heart sinks at the undermining of the local community.

"This is a green space, and it wasn't allocated for development in the Mendip Local Plan.

"The deal that has been done has come up short with the affordable housing and education."

Councillor Michael Dunk (Frome West) added: "We haven't covered ourselves in glory as a landowner.

"What we're looking at here is a failed opportunity. It's a disappointing application, with the loss of productive farmland and public amenity.

"The housing does not really fit in with the existing housing and would have an adverse effect on the character of the area."

After around two hours' debate, the committee voted to refuse the plans by six votes to three, with two abstentions – a decision which prompted significant cheering within the council chamber.

Neither Mr Boyden nor Ms Denton were able to take part in this vote, since they had pre-determined their position on the application before the meeting.

LiveWest has not confirmed whether it intends to challenge the decision via an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

A spokesman said: "We will reflect on the planning decision and consider next steps."