Frome property prices: Lack of jobs and homes making town a 'dormitory for retired and wealthy'
| Posted: January 30, 2017
A Green councillor has warned a Somerset town could become rammed with cars used by wealthy commuters or retired people.
He says a lack of affordable new homes and job opportunities are turning Frome into a "gentrified dormitory town".
The comments come after Somerset Live revealed property prices rose by 14.5 per cent in Frome last year, the third highest price increase in the county.
Meanwhile average rental prices have risen by 13.3 per cent since 2015.
All this comes while more than 450 people sit on the town's housing list – the highest number of people waiting to be housed across the Mendip District.
The town's mayor has urged people with savings to invest in social or affordable housing.
image: http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/binaries/E01%20100117%20Rightmovee.jpg
Des Harris, a Mendip district councillor for the Green Party, and member of the district council's planning board, said: "Two things are happening in Frome – gradually I admit – that not everyone knows about. They are both so big and so critical for the future of our town that everyone needs to know.
"It's easy to describe but much harder to remedy. Put simply, there is far too little opportunity to work in Frome and way too few homes being built that most people can afford.
"We'll probably never see the days again when the large majority of folk worked in Frome for large employers based in the town and mostly lived in homes which they could afford to rent or own.
"In this respect Frome is no different from the national picture where much of Britain's industry has folded or gone abroad and local work is much harder to find.
"It's essential that work comes back to Frome, and with it houses that people can afford; young people and families who want to be in Frome but can't. We know that the demand for work space here is large and growing. Not large industry any more, but offices, studio spaces, workshops, training centres and more."
David Chedgy
image: http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/binaries/157891411-large.jpg
Mr Harris says government policy smooths the way for developers to build houses on land that once had large employment sites. These are sold on the open market - making them "unaffordable" to people on lower incomes.
He said: "When challenged that they are not planning enough affordable homes or work spaces the developers claim they can't afford to include such things because they will reduce their profit margins.
"Unbelievable, yes, but true. And, up until now, there was nothing we on the planning board could do about it, despite our protests.
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"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's Local Plan requires that at least 60 (30 per cent) out of 200 new homes should be affordable. It 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 and peopled by the retired and the wealthy. Is this what we want?"
Artur Lesniak
image: http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/binaries/157956800-large.jpg
Mr Harris said there was some hope on the horizon, however. He said the Frome Neighbourhood Plan which has now become part of planning law.
He said: "This will add strength to the arm of those of us who want Frome to be a young, vibrant working town once more.
"Rest assured, Frome Town Council and those of us from Frome on Mendip District Council are doing all we can to ensure that our town gets its proper share of work space and affordable homes."
READ: Audi photographed taking up two parking spaces in busy Frome car park
The Mayor of Frome, councillor Toby Eliot said: "There is no doubt that the constantly rising costs of both buying and renting properties in Frome causes real problems for many people and asks questions that we, as a community, should consider.
"Property prices are rising across the country; this is not a Frome-specific phenomenon although we have seen greater increases just recently. People who have moved to Frome in recent decades have, in some cases, come from areas they can no longer afford to live in.
"Rising house prices benefit none of Frome's residents (unless you own several properties). If you own (with or without a mortgage) one property – the one you live in – then the price rises offer you nothing. You could sell and realise the increased value as long as you didn't need anywhere to live."
image: http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/binaries/train%20station%20canvvv%20a.jpg
Mr Eliot is urging those lucky enough to have savings to invest to consider being a part of the solution.
He said: "Look at opportunities to invest in organisations building social housing or bringing derelict homes back into use.
"There are groups across our town looking at what we can do to make housing more affordable. The town council is involved in a self-build scheme that will provide more affordable homes in the long run.
"There's no simple solution but every new idea or innovation could help. Please consider working towards local solutions rather than looking for scapegoats among your neighbours."