7 February 2017
Des Harris, Green Party District Councillor writes:
Like many towns, Frome has seen a decrease in local jobs, and a lack of homes that most people can afford to buy or rent. It’s essential that work comes back to Frome, and with it houses that people can afford - particularly the young people and families who want to be in Frome but can’t. Demand for work space here is large and growing: offices, studio spaces, workshops, training centres and more.
This demand is not being met despite the government’s decree that many more houses should be built. They smooth the way for developers to build only “market” houses on land that once had large employment sites. Developers claim they can’t “afford” to include enough affordable homes and work spaces because that would reduce their profit margins. And, up until now, there was nothing we on the planning board could do about it, despite our protests.
Take three well-known “brown field” sites in Frome: Butler, Tanner and Dennis (off Locks Hill); Western Vinyls (off Vallis Way) and the old Police Station site (opposite Oakfield Academy). Between them these sites will, if all goes to the developers’ plans, account for nearly 200 more houses, perhaps 750 new people. Not one of these sites includes employment opportunities and no more than a handful of
“affordable” homes are planned. Mendip District’s Local Plan requires that at least 60 (30%) out of 200 new homes should be affordable. But this won't happen because in two of those cases permission has already been allowed. If this continues Frome will become a gentrified dormitory town, rammed with cars used for going to work elsewhere.
Fortunately there is hope. The Frome Neighbourhood Plan, which is very strong on these two issues, has now become part of planning law at Mendip Distrct. This will help Frome to become a vibrant working town once more. Green Party councillors at Mendip will contine to work with Frome Town Council and others to ensure our town gets its proper share of work space and affordable homes.
Des Harris is Green Party Mendip District Councillor for Frome Market, and sits on Mendip's Planning Board
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