Somerset Council is set to confirm it has a preferred bidder for the Saxonvale site in Frome.
The Council’s Executive agreed to sell the 12-acre brownfield site on the open market last October and it was formally marketed in May this year, with a bid deadline set for 13 July 2026. This gave interested parties nine weeks to prepare their financial proposals.
A report will be heard at Executive on 23 September which outlines the process so far and recommends approval to move ahead with the sale of the site to the preferred bidder.
Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets said:
Saxonvale is an important site for Frome and has been left undeveloped for far too long. We need to move forward and we have carried out a comprehensive bidding process for the site which aims to deliver best value for the Council and people of Somerset.
Bids were invited on an unconditional or conditional (subject to planning) basis, with a preference of unconditional proposals communicated to interested parties. Unconditional offers better support the assessment of the Council’s obligations to secure best consideration for the disposal of the site, under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972.
A total of eight potential bids were submitted for final consideration.
Alongside the financial offer of each party, other criteria used to select the preferred bidder have included the proof of funds, transaction time-scales, experience and track record.
You can read the report here and papers here.
Please note some of the appendices to the report contain confidential information and are not publicly available.
