1 Introduction
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1 Introduction Why are we here? We want to share our emerging plans for South Frome, understand what issues are important to you, and your views on the initial plans for this area. This will help us take local opinions into account as the project progresses. Land Value Alliances (LVA) and a Landowner Consortium are seeking to deliver a mixed-use development to the south of Frome known as Selwood Garden Village (SGV). The first phase will deliver a mixed-use development, including around 1,500 new homes, employment land and a local centre which will include social infrastructure and a local community hub. Who are we? LVA are a market leading business in the strategic land and planning promotion sector. Our portfolio consists of over 60 projects throughout the UK including one of the first Zero Carbon schemes in the region. During the planning process we positively engage with planning authorities, Parish and Town Councils, communities, consultees and developers. We believe in forming co-operative relationships between all the stakeholders. We believe that our approach of creating working ‘alliances’ leads to better development. We engage with the community and their representatives in the planning phase. We work together in producing the right development sites in the right locations and the right form of development. Our aim is to meet and listen to the community and its representatives whether in the planning offices, Parish / Town Councils, neighbourhood planning committees or in open public consultations. We believe in trying to establish and agree the community benefits which flow from suitable sustainable development. We believe that funding which flows from any S106 or CIL contribution should as far as possible be directed towards local needs of the people within or connected to the settlement. As a promoter , LVA seek to secure well thought our planning permissions and sets a range of deliverable parameters,, which future developers would need to adhere to. LVA will retain a role throughout the project to ensure the delivery of the site wide infrastructure and to ensure the housebuilders and developers comply with the overarching principals and parameters that we are looking to establish. This ensures that that the parameters and benefits we agree are deliverable and therefore delivered, thereby producing a highly sustainable and attractive development. Selwood Garden Village LAND VALUE ALLIANCES 2 Why is more housing needed? National Context The situation in Mendip Why are new homes needed in Frome? There is a well-publicised housing crisis that is affecting the UK at the The main policy document that guides development, in Mendip is the Local Plan, Mendip District Council will need to allocate land to provide the 3,000+ new current time with an estimated 8.4 million people in England currently living which is split into two parts: homes needed in the most sustainable locations. in an unaffordable, insecure or unsuitable home (source: National Housing Federation). In addition, homelessness also continues to rise significantly. • The Local Plan Part 1 (LPP1) was adopted on 15 December 2014. It Frome has the largest population of all of Mendip’s Town’s but over recent sets out the overall district housing targets and allocates large strategic years, housing delivery has not been proportionate to Frome’s size, as this table sites for development (such as the Saxonvale site); and illustrates. Connected research by Herriott-Watt University has estimated that: • The Local Plan Part 2 (LPP2) which allocates additional development HOUSING sites (such as the Little Keyford Lane sites being taken forward by POPULATION % OF MAIN % of HOUSING TOWN COMPLETIONS Wainhomes and David Wilson Homes) and has recently been through an (2011) TOWNS COMPLETIONS OVERCROWDING 2007-17 3.6 million people are living in an overcrowded home; Examination process and is close to being adopted. Frome 26,223 38.6% 1,060 29.2% UNAFFORDABLE Central Government requires that Local Plans are reviewed every 5 years, and Glastonbury 8,943 13.2% 617 17.0% 2.5 million are unable to afford their rent or mortgage; this means that from 15 December 2019 (i.e. this year), the Local Plan Part 1 will Shepton Mallet 10,374 15.3% 700 19.3% be “out of date” and the current housing target for the district will no longer be HIDDEN HOUSEHOLDS fully valid. To address this, Mendip District Council has committed to undertaking Street 11,820 17.4% 742 20.5% a Local Plan Review and work on this is due to start next year. 2.5 million are in “hidden households”, they cannot afford to move out Wells 10,556 15.5% 508 14.0% of (i.e. house shares, adults living with their parents, or people living with Total 67,916 100% 3,627 100% an ex-partner); A “standard method” for calculating housing need has been introduced since Mendip adopted its ‘Part 1’ Plan. Applying this will mean that Mendip District UNSUITABLE HOUSING Council’s minimum housing target will increase from 420 Given this previous imbalance, the fact that Frome offers the only Train station in Mendip, and the Town has good links to nearby employment hubs of Bristol and 1.7 million are in unsuitable housing (i.e. older people in homes they dwellings a year to 588 dwellings a year. So, over the next 20 years Bath, the large-scale strategic growth in Frome is a logical option. cannot move around easily, or families with no outside space); Mendip will need to find land for3,360 more homes than it has currently planned for. House prices have increased rapidly in Frome in recent years as the table below POOR QUALITY demonstrates, with inflation rapidly outstripping house price increases elsewhere 1.4 million are in poor quality homes; and in the district. This demonstrates that the demand for housing in Mendip is This means, that in effect, on the 15th December 2019, Mendip will no longer focused on Frome and therefore supply needs to be increased here to meet this be able to demonstrate what is known as a “five-year housing land supply”. This increased demand. HOMELESSNESS means that after the 15th December 2019, the council will find 400,000 are homeless or at risk of homelessness - including people it difficult to resist applications for piecemeal development sleeping rough, living in homeless shelters, temporary accommodation across the district. This will be a particular problem for Frome, where there REAL HOUSE PRICE or sofa-surfing. is good access to jobs, services and public transport links, which make housing TOWN developments more compelling. INFLATION / DEFLATION Piecemeal development usually occurs on a ‘field by field’ basis with little To combat these significant social problems, all major political parties accept thought given to wider infrastructure, such as new roads and ecological Frome 16% that the speed of housing delivery must change. The previous Conservative improvements, which puts pressure on existing roads and biodiversity and offer Government was targeting the delivery of 300,000 homes a year by the mid- little in the way of community benefits. 2020’s to address this acute issue. Shepton Mallet -10% This will represent a significant step change in delivery from the last two years, We are proposing a comprehensively planned development which Wells -10% with only 241,130 new homes delivered in England in 2018/19 and 222,190 in will deliver extensive infrastructure (such as new roads, a local centre, open 2017/18. It is therefore clear that more homes need to be delivered in the UK. space, a new school etc.) that would benefit not just new occupants, Glastonbury -14% but also existing residents of the town. We strongly believe this is a better approach than piecemeal development in various locations that don’t provide a joined-up approach to infrastructure deliver. Street -8% Selwood Garden Village LAND VALUE ALLIANCES 3 Why South Frome? It is clear that as part of the Local Plan Review, Frome will need to accommodate a significant level of housing growth. We estimate that a site, or sites for around BUCKLAND 2,000 new homes, will need to be identified to meet demand. DINHAM Orchardleigh Estate There are two options for how this can be achieved, either a wider range of smaller sites, or by focusing on a large strategic scale site. We consider that A362 the latter option is the most appropriate, as it allows for wider infrastructure Constrained access road to improvements to be provided in a logical and phased way. north of town Sewage Consideration then needs to be given to where the most appropriate location for treatment plant Avoiding impacts buffer zone on Beckington as such growth should be. The plan shows what constraints have been taken into a separate village account when making this assessment. A36 In respect to the land south of the town it was determined that while topography, green infrastructure and the floodplain in its south eastern extents needed careful consideration, it was the most unconstrained area when Railway provides access to London compared to the alternatives. Bristol and Bath A361 Whatcombe Fields purchased by community and FTC to prevent Railway provides development. barrier to FROME expansion. TOWN CHAMPMANSLADE CENTRE Good access to train station from Ridge-line south Frome escarpment to west of town Proposed CORSLEY Site for SGV HEATH Railway and bypass to south of town forms A361 natural limit to Flood Plan expansion. Marston Estate Site has good access to bypass and A36 without impact on road network within the town e n i L y a w l i a R Longleat Estate Selwood Garden Village LAND VALUE ALLIANCES 4 Vision Wellbeing Sustainability Prosperity A Positive Contribution to Frome Exemplar Sustainability Assist in Addressing the Housing Crisis The Selwood Garden Village proposals will incorporate sufficient infrastructure In the context of global climate change, many communities including Frome To provide sufficient homes to meet the needs of the local community.