The fate of a major Frome housing development will be decided by the early-summer after the government 'called in' the proposals.

Outline plans were submitted in August 2021 for the Selwood Garden Community (SGC), which would see green fields between the A361 and the southern edge of Frome transformed into a substantial new community, including new commercial space, a primary school and a riverside park.

Somerset Council's planning committee east narrowly voted in December 2024 that it was "minded to refuse" the plans, and intended to ratify this decision when it met in Shepton Mallet on Tuesday afternoon (February 4).

But 24 hours before the meeting took place, the government announced that it would be calling in the application – meaning that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP will have the final say instead of local people.

In addition to the new homes, the development (if approved) will also include a local centre and community hub (which will include shops, restaurants and offices), more than 25,000 sq m of employment space, two residential care homes (providing a combined total of 105 beds), a 420-place primary school, playing fields, allotments, orchards and new pedestrian and cycle routes.

Around 40 per cent of the site will be set aside as public open space, nature reserves or other green landscaping, including a new nature reserve on the southern side of the A361.

Of the 1,700 homes proposed for the site, 30 per cent will be affordable – the equivalent of 510 homes, which will be a mixture of social rented, shared ownership and other low-cost options.

The consortium will also make improvements to the Beckington and White Post roundabouts, which provide key links to the neighbouring villages along with Bath and Trowbridge.

Senior planning officer Simon Trafford outlined the state of affairs when the planning committee east met in Shepton Mallet on Tuesday afternoon (February 4).

He said: "Effectively the secretary of state has written to confirm that the application has been called in for consideration through an appointed inspector.

"We expect to receive a further letter from the Planning Inspectorate for the procedure and the date for a public inquiry.

"We will need to arrange a further meeting so you are in a position to consider the application formally, feeding into the council's statement of case."

Despite the committee stating it was "minded to refuse" in December, the planning officers' report published before the committee meeting recommended approval – arguing that all of the objections previously voiced could be handled through planning conditions.

The committee will meet in the coming months to agree its position on the SGC proposals – a position it will then present to the government-appointed inspector.

Councillor Helen Kay, whose Frome East division includes the SGC site, raised concerns about the official record of the December meeting, arguing it was not an accurate record of the committee's position.

She said: "I would imagine whoever is running the public inquiry will look at the draft minutes and use that as a guide.

"I'm not happy with that. If we're going to agree to those minutes at the next meeting, will the inspector already be in their place and looking at the paperwork?"

Council solicitor Martin Evans replied: "The minutes will be coming to the next committee to be approved. The inspector has not yet been appointed.

"When they are, they don't see the draft minutes – they see the fully resolved minutes as part of the council's official submission.

"We know the government was taking an interest in this, because it would be a departure from the Local Plan – but we had no notice that this was being called in."

The call-in was confirmed in a letter to the council from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which was published on Monday (February 3).

The government-appointed inspector will investigate the plans on a number of grounds, including:

• Whether they confirm with the government's policy to deliver new homes, under the amended National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
• Whether they are consistent with the government's plans to create economic growth
• Whether they promote "sustainable" transport
• Whether they adequately "conserve and enhance the natural environment"
• Whether they are consistent with the development plan for the local area – including the Mendip Local Plan Part II

Until Ms Rayner makes a ruling on the SGC proposals, the council cannot grant planning permission for any application covering part or all of the site.

The call-in will not affect the delivery of housing on neighbouring sites, including the ongoing developments within the Keyford area (either side of the B3092 The Mount) or the Keyford Meadows site on Sandys Hill Lane.

Representatives for the SGC consortium were approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service but declined to comment.