Somerset Council is continuing to work with Avon and Somerset Police and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service following a fire at the Saxonvale site in Frome on Wednesday 1 July.
The fire involved the Western Warehouse building. Fire crews attended the scene and worked to contain the blaze and prevent it spreading to neighbouring buildings, including the Silk Mill and the former Notts Industries office building.
We are grateful to the emergency services for their swift response and can confirm that, at this stage, there have been no reports of any injuries.
The site remains under the control of the emergency services while investigations continue. Fire investigators, Somerset Council officers and the police are working together to establish the cause of the fire and assess the condition of the affected building.
As part of this work, specialist fire investigators are undertaking further examinations of the site today. It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the fire or any factors that may have contributed to it while these investigations are ongoing.
Saxonvale is a 12-acre brownfield site close to Frome town centre and represents one of the most significant regeneration opportunities in Somerset. Mendip District Council purchased the three parcels of land making up Saxonvale in 2018 to enable regeneration of the site. Following local government reorganisation, those assets transferred to Somerset Council.
In May, the Council confirmed that the Saxonvale site would be marketed for redevelopment through an open and competitive sales process to help deliver a high-quality mixed-use redevelopment that benefits Frome and the wider community.
The Council had security measures in place at the site, including securing entrances and buildings wherever possible, together with motion-sensor cameras and 24 hour a day monitoring by a specialist security company. Following the fire, additional security measures have been put in place and the site continues to be monitored and patrolled while investigations are carried out.
We can confirm there are no active utility services connected to any of the buildings on the site. The Council has appropriate insurance arrangements in place for the site and is working with its insurers as part of the response to the incident.
The former Western Warehouse building is not listed. While investigations and site assessments are ongoing, the Council does not currently believe the fire will have a material impact on the sale or future redevelopment of Saxonvale.
Any necessary safety, demolition and site remediation works will be assessed and managed as part of the next steps following the completion of the emergency services’ investigations.
Saxonvale is an important site for the future of Frome and the Council remains committed to securing a high-quality development that benefits the town and wider community.
We will provide further updates when more information becomes available.
