Mayday Saxonvale

Drop In Info Session: New Directors 31st Oct 12.30pm to 1.30pm @ Frome Town Hall This is aimed at anyone who might be interested in joining the FACLT Board. We are holding this meeting on this date in order that interested folk have time to apply to join the board by 7th November, the final date for applications. New directors will voted on to the board at FACLT’s AGM on 21st November. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to ask us any questions you may have about the organisation, governance, finance, our current projects etc. and discuss what’s involved in becoming a director. Find out more about becoming a director here https://lnkd.in/eepNqCuW Please RSVP to info@fromeareaclt.org if you would like to come to this session. If you are interested in joining the board but are not able to come to the meeting please contact us via info@fromeareaclt.org and one of the directors will arrange to talk with you at a time that suits you. https://lnkd.in/ey9uSQTx #fromeareaclt #joinus #volunteer #frome #affordablehousing #housingcrisis

https://lnkd.in/eepNqCuW Join our Team! FACLT and Mayday Saxonvale are continuing talks with Somerset Council and we are actively recruiting new directors to join our board... deadline 7th November. See below for more info... #fromeareaclt #maydaysaxonvale #communityledhousing #JoinOurTeam

Great session today with Stories and Studio Saar!

Positive discussions have taken place with the council over plans to regenerate a key part of Frome town centre Via BBC News https://lnkd.in/ekaqtfk9

We have had an initial positive meeting with Somerset Council. We look forward to continuing an open dialogue and moving forward with the sale of the Saxonvale site for our community. #Communityled #development at scale is relatively new, and therefore our aim is that through these discussions the council will fully appreciate the resilience of the model we are putting forward. Compared to a conventional developer, we are lower risk. With one project we have only one focus, one which is not leveraged and we have more diverse sources of funding available. Our aim is to transform Saxonvale as a mixed-use #urbanregeneration project in a way that puts Frome first at every stage. We are in it for the long term. The future impact on Frome is central to all our thinking, and our plan will enhance the future resilience of Frome through community ownership. By retaining and reinvesting profits for the benefit of our town, we will generate social, economic, and community wealth to ensure Saxonvale contributes to the health and vitality of #Frome and #Somerset. Frome Area Community Land Trust Stories Studio Saar Landstory

We are pleased to confirm we have initiated further discussions with Somerset Council regarding the potential purchase of the Saxonvale site. We look forward to positive and constructive discussions with the Council, and to making a community-led development in Saxonvale a reality. We will provide further updates on the progress of these discussions when we can. #ourtown #oursaxonvale #Frome #saxonvale #communitydevelopment

Trying to put into words what we have all been feeling over the last few days is not straightforward at all. Following the six hour meeting, either online or in person, we all felt the tension and disappointment together as it became clear the Committee had decided not to select Mayday as the preferred bidder. To update anyone who may not have seen the news, Somerset Council Executive unanimously agreed to move forward with Acorn Property Group as the preferred bidder of the Saxonvale site. However, early the following afternoon, Acorn released a statement on their social channels withdrawing their bid for the site. They felt they could no longer move forward with the development as they could not work with the local community. This was a complete shock to us all. Even Bill Reven’s stated he was “Flabbergasted”. It therefore needs to be acknowledged, as recognised by Acorn, that a scheme of this size and strategic importance cannot proceed without a strong level of support from the community. Frome has now made it abundantly clear that our community-led approach is what our town wants. The council have stated that they will now consider how to proceed, and we look forward to hearing from them soon. Comments by the Executive Councillors before their decision had an absolute focus on there being the minimum delay before redevelopment could begin. There is now no other developer with planning consent, or ready “to get spades in the ground”, but us. We are ready to work with the council, to purchase the site, and develop Saxonvale in the way that Frome deserves. Thank you so much for all of the support and solidarity over this incredible time. We would not be here today if it was not for all of our incredible supporters. The initial decision was very hard for us all to hear, however, we need to acknowledge and empathise it was also difficult for the council to make. Our hope is that we can now all move forward, for the future of our town, together. #ourtown #oursaxonvale

Excited for our architect Studio Saar, landscape architect Landstory and our development partner Stories who are finalists of the The Davidson Prize for Apartment Store! The winner will be announced tonight! Good luck!

Happy #MayDay!🌸 As we Spring into a season of new beginnings, will this be the time of transformation for #Saxonvale? We have all waited so long. This summer, a decision will be made by Somerset Council. 🤞Let’s hope it’s the right one. Mayday Saxonvale: The right plan for the future of #Frome #OurTown #OurSaxonvale Thank you to Caroline Radcliffe JACKDAWS for the beautiful ensemble of 'Here Comes The Sun', everyone who came and sang with us at 6am, and Tamara Stubbs for the fantastic drone video footage.

Huge congratulations to our Development Partner Stories , our Architect Studio Saar, and our Landscape Architect Landstory for being shortlisted for the Davidson Prize! 🥳