Frome Town Council can confirm that, following our invitation to submit bids for the lease or purchase of Badgers Hill, two proposals were received.
The invitation, published in January 2026, set out clear and transparent criteria to ensure the site’s future as a sustainable sports and community asset. A key requirement – carrying significant weighting in the assessment – was the submission of a viable business plan supported by clear proof of funds to both acquire and invest in the site.
Following an initial assessment and presentations to the town council’s internal project team, neither bidder was able to provide the required proof of funds.
Given the level of public investment already made in securing Badgers Hill, we have a duty to ensure that any future arrangement is financially credible, deliverable, and does not place further risk on public resources. In the absence of this essential assurance, the town council has concluded that it would not be appropriate to progress either bid at this time.
Both bids were submitted on a confidential basis and, as such, the council is unable to share further details.
The council is now actively exploring the options available. We will also continue to engage with stakeholders to secure a viable and sustainable long-term future for the site.
Leader and Chair of Frome Town Council, Fiona Barrows, said:
“We stepped in to pay off the debts of Frome Town Holdings in 2022 to prevent the site from being lost to our community forever, because we understood how important Badgers Hill is to the footballing community and to the town as a whole.
“The site is now owned by the community – by the people of Frome – and with that comes a responsibility to protect it for the future and ensure it is managed in a way that is robust, deliverable, and in the best interests of everyone.
“Having invested significant public money, time and effort into securing the site, we must be confident that any future partner can demonstrate the financial certainty needed to deliver on their plans. We remain committed to finding a positive and sustainable way forward and welcome further discussions with interested parties.”
