In case you missed the Frome Nub News planning update :

A lido and a relocated school form part of an alternative vision for a major Somerset regeneration site.

Mayday Saxonvale is a not-for-profit organisation, created in August 2019 in response to Mendip District Council's efforts to regenerate the Saxonvale site in Frome through its partnership with the Acorn Property Group.

The organisation has teased details of its alternative vision for the site (including a lido and a relocated school), claiming it will better meet the housing, employment and leisure needs of local residents.

The plans detailing Mayday Saxonvale's vision have now been formally submitted – mere weeks after the council's planning board narrowly approved plans for the Acorn scheme for a second time.

While the Acorn proposals centre around delivering 300 homes, the Mayday plans envision a maximum of 182 properties, which will be concentrated in several blocks at the southern end of the site.

In addition to the new homes, the site will include offices and workshop space, a hotel and spa, and a music and performance space.

The existing Garsdale route into the site from the east will join up with Saxonvale, with St John's Church of England First School relocating to the northern side of Garsdale from its current base on the A362 Christchurch Street East.

At the western edge of the site, many of the existing historic structures will be preserved and re-purposed for cultural and heritage uses – including the 'western warehouse', which has been earmarked as a possible arts venue.

Nearest the River Frome, green space will be preserved, with a new lido being built for year-round use and a new bridge being provided over the river.

Mayday Saxonvale director Damon Moore said: "The redevelopment of the Saxonvale site has been delayed and delayed, which has led to real frustration for the people of Frome.

"The site has also attracted considerable controversy since the Acorn plan was initiated in 2019.

"Now we have submitted a viable, funded, and policy compliant plan, Frome finally has a real alternative to consider for the site.

"Should our plan be approved and come to fruition, it would be the first example anywhere in the UK of a successful community-led masterplan, where Frome would lead the way. This could be an incredible legacy for both Frome and the council."

Acorn's plans for the site (which is owned by the council) were first approved by councillors in January by 11 votes to 3, in what was described as "a positive next step" for the town.

The plans came back before the board in September in light of progress on the council's Local Plan Part II, which clarified the use of the Saxonvale site as well as allocating further sites for future housing.

The plans were narrowly approved for a second time on this occasion, by seven votes to six – despite the threat from Mayday Saxonvale of a judicial review.

Work to clear the site of vegetation and graffiti is already well under way, using a £3.95M grant from Homes England which must be spent in its entirety by December 31.

However, no buildings can be demolished or new foundations laid until legal agreements between the council and Acorn are finalised – with the former stating that "all parties are close to agreeing the terms".

Mayday Saxonvale director Paul Oster has called on Frome residents to support the alternative proposals for the site by making formal representations on the council's planning website.

He said: "The doors are now open for change – we can still have a genuine town extension in Saxonvale that responds to, and reflects Frome's creative, entrepreneurial, and community spirit."

The council has not indicated how soon a decision could be taken on the Mayday Saxonvale proposals, or whether they will come before the planning board for such a decision.