Date published: 13 May 2025
On Thursday 8 May, members of Somerset Council and Frome Town Council attended the event at the Cherry Grove scheme in Frome, where they celebrated the commencement of the new Passivhaus development.
Matthew Crucefix, Stonewater’s Director of Development, opened the visit by explaining the benefits of the homes, which are designed to stringent Passivhaus standards and will be built to help address local housing need.
Renowned for their exceptional comfort and energy efficiency, Passivhaus homes can reduce heating costs by up to 90% thanks to very high levels of insulation, airtight building fabric, high performance windows and doors, and ‘thermal bridge free’ construction that ensures thermal heating of the properties is minimal.
Cherry Grove’s homes are also being constructed using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) by Ashcot Construction Ltd, to help reduce waste, accelerate build times and minimise disruption on-site.
Stonewater and Ashcot Construction Ltd colleagues then lead a tour of the site at Manor Road, before answering questions from those in attendance.
Following the event, Matthew Crucefix said: “Cherry Grove is a landmark development for Stonewater and a great example of how we can deliver sustainable, affordable housing that meets future needs and environmental standards today.
“We're proud to be working closely with our partners and local council representatives to ensure that these homes make a meaningful impact both environmentally and socially.”
Members of Somerset Council and Frome Town Council in attendance included: Andy Jones, Frome Town Mayor; Councillor Sarah Wakefield, Somerset Council Adult Services and Housing Portfolio Holder; Councillor Fran Smith, Somerset Council Associate Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Housing; Councillor Steve Tanner, Frome Town Council leader and Chair of the Planning Committee; Jane Llewellyn, Frome Town Council Planning and Development Manager; and Kirsty Larkins, Director of Housing at Somerset Council.
They were joined by Stonewater representatives; Jonathan Layzell, Chief Officer for Growth and Development; David Ripley, Chief Operating Officer; Matthew Crucefix, Director of Development (South & West); and Katharine Eulenkamp, Senior Development Manager.
Mayor Andy Jones said: “It’s fantastic to see a development like Cherry Grove taking shape here in Frome. These new homes demonstrate what’s possible when we combine innovation with a real commitment to sustainability and community needs.
“Projects like this not only address the urgent demand for affordable housing but also set a new benchmark for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in our town.”
Councillor Sarah Wakefield, Somerset Council Adult Services and Housing Portfolio Holder, added: “Cherry Grove represents the commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and affordable housing that Somerset is making as we work towards building a more resilient and future-proof housing market for our county.
“We are grateful to the registered provider for showing in this small development how this can be achieved.
“This project not only addresses the pressing demand for quality homes but also for social rented dwellings. It also demonstrates how we can build them, to provide long-term wellbeing, environmental and economic benefits for our county and its residents.”
The homes, built on brownfield land, will be a combination of eight two-bedroom flats and 16 two- and three-bedroom houses available for social rent, ensuring affordability for those unable to access housing on the open market.
They are due for competition by April 2026.