A residential developer has unexpectedly pulled out of a controversial regeneration project in one of England’s most progressive towns after an outcry from local people.
Somerset council leaders had faced heavy criticism after agreeing to sell a 12-acre brownfield site called Saxonvale in the town of Frome to Acorn Property Group.
But less than 24 hours after the decision, Acorn announced it was dropping out because the people of Frome had made it clear they did not want to work with it.
The move may clear the way for a not-for-profit project called Mayday Saxonvale run by a social enterprise to buy the site. It wants to build a large number of affordable homes, extensive workspaces and a lido in what is being billed as the largest community-led development in the UK.
Acorn was clearly stung by the reaction to its successful bid on Wednesday night. Residents criticised the council’s executive for plumping for the company, claiming they had chased the money, and expressed concern they would be left with a “cookie-cutter” housing development at the heart of their bohemian town.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, it said: “Acorn Property Group prides itself in working with local communities to provide much-needed regeneration through residential-led schemes.
“It has become abundantly clear that in this case, despite our best endeavours to work with all the stakeholders, the local community does not wish to work with Acorn and on that basis we have decided to withdraw from the process.
“Acorn wishes Frome and the local community the best of luck going forward in developing this wonderful site in whatever way they choose to take the matter forward”.
Mayday Saxonvale and Acorn have been vying to buy the land, a former factories site derelict for more than a quarter of a century, from Somerset council.
Acorn had proposed 300 homes, with 160 being affordable, and employment space about half the size of that proposed by Mayday.
The Mayday Saxonvale scheme included plans for 263 homes with at least 30%, and possibly more than 50%, being affordable. It wanted to provide more than 10,000 sq metres of employment space, a boutique hotel, lido, two public squares and a community kitchen, with the site remaining in community ownership.
After Acorn’s announcement on Thursday, Damon Moore, a director of Mayday, said: “We’ve got our future back. It’s extraordinary.”
He said he hoped the council would sell the site to Mayday, adding: “There’s no other candidate now.”
His wife, Kate Moore, who runs an artists’ studio and gallery on the Saxonvale site, was in tears at the meeting when the decision was announced. She said on Thursday: “I was heartbroken. It feels like the clouds have lifted. It sounds as if Acorn finally listened to us. It shows what people can do. There’s hope again.”
Shane Collins, a Green councillor in Frome, said: “This is unprecedented news. In nine years of being a councillor, I’ve never heard of a developer pull out due to community feeling. This shows the power of community in Frome. Fantastic news, from the depths of depression yesterday to elation today.”
During the meeting, Acorn said it would work with the residents, and rejected the notion it would create a “cookie cutter” development, insisting it would build “individually designed” homes.
All the residents who spoke at the meeting supported Mayday Saxonvale. The town councillor Anita Collier, who has lived in Frome for 60 years, said she remembered Saxonvale when it was a vibrant place, alive with various industries – and wanted that back.
The executive said the Mayday scheme was “innovative and unique”, and praised the community land trust ownership model it included.
But it voted in favour of Acorn, who offered more money, reminding residents they had declared a financial emergency because of a £100m budget gap.
As the decision was announced, local people called out: “Shame on you”, “You don’t have to do this” and, “It’s all about the money”. Several walked out.
On Thursday after the Acorn announcement, the Somerset council leader, Bill Revans, said: “We note the decision from Acorn Property Group and will now carefully consider our next steps.”
