Eleven exciting projects could see Glastonbury wholly transformed over the next three years.

Glastonbury was one of 101 towns across the UK – and one of only two in Somerset – which has received funding from the government's towns fund, with £23.6m being provided for projects designed to enhance the town centre and improve the town's fortunes.

Following the government's approval of the town deal business cases in September, the wheels have been set in motion on all of the projects – though some are moving faster than others.

With all the funding having to be spent by March 2026, council officers are working round the clock with numerous partners to turn these 11 dreams into distinct realities.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service toured Glastonbury town centre on April 29, looking at the progress being made on each of the 11 projects and their designated sites.

While some of the projects are highly visible (or will become more so as work moves forward), others are more subtle and may not be fully appreciated for a number of years.

Here's where things stand with each of the 11 projects within the Glastonbury town deal:

Regeneration of the Baily's Buildings

PROJECT DETAILS: the Beckery Island Regeneration Trust (BIRT) wishes to redevelop these historic buildings on Beckery Old Road into a zero-carbon hub for local start-ups, small and growing businesses, educational groups and workshops. A museum will also be incorporated to celebrate Glastonbury's industrial heritage.

STATUS: a planning application was submitted to Mendip District Council in October 2022. Consultation on this application remains ongoing, with a decision expected to be made by Somerset Council later this year. Work could begin on site in early-2024.

COST: £7.81m (£6.31m from the town deal, £1.5m from other sources)

The Glastonbury Enterprise and Innovation Hub

PROJECT DETAILS: Somerset Council, working with Strode College, wishes to turn the Beckery Resource Centre on Beckery Road into "a dedicated centre for the town's vibrant business community". The project is intended to provide space for small and growing businesses, especially those in the food and manufacturing sectors. The revamped building will form part of the council's network of rural enterprise centres, and will include workspaces available on "affordable, flexible contracts" powered by clean energy.

STATUS: The council indicated in March that it would relocate its vehicle depot to the former King Ina Academy site on Etsome Terrace in Somerton to allow work on the project to begin. No formal planning application has yet been submitted, making it difficult to establish a time-scale for the project.

COST: £1.67m (£1.17m from the town deal, £500,000 from other sources)

Completing Building C of The Life Factory 

PROJECT DETAILS: Building on the accelerator project during the coronavirus pandemic, The Red Brick Building Centre Ltd. (working with Strode College) wishes to develop this part of the Life Factory complex off the A39 Street Road into "an iconic building for businesses, learning, young people and community uses". The project will provide a focal point for Glastonbury's numerous creative industries, with young people being able to access a range of training opportunities in broadcasting, media and other skills.

STATUS: Detailed plans for the building are currently being drawn up, with a planning application expected to come forward later in the year. The project is expected to be completed in full by the end of 2025.

COST: £5.78m (£2.89m each from the town deal and other sources)

The Glastonbury Clean Energy Project



PROJECT DETAILS: Avalon Clean Energy is looking to install electric vehicle charging and green energy generation (especially solar panels) across Glastonbury, working in collaboration with businesses within the Beckery Village area, community organisations and local landowners. The green energy generated from these installations will be available to the other town deal projects, with all profits being reinvested back into the community.

STATUS: It is not currently clear how many installations will be planned, with each needing its own planning permission (either to alter an existing building or to construct a new solar array). It is likely that different elements of this project will come forward as the other elements of the town deal progress.

COST: £3.86m (£2.8m from the town deal, £1.06m from the sale of shares or bonds, which pay four per cent interest)

The Robert Richards Initiative

PROJECT DETAILS: Named after the original chairman of the Glastonbury town deal board, this project is designed to deliver 2.5km of new walking and cycling routes across the town, providing connections for businesses and building on the Glastonbury Way accelerator project to enable more people to access the Somerset Levels and Moors. In addition to the new routes, an affordable electric bicycle hire scheme will be implemented. Other projects within the town deal will also be provided with advice and support in partnership with Strode College and the Open University to make them as sustainable as possible.

STATUS: The precise new routes are still being worked on – though one section has been confirmed, near the Tor Leisure Centre will be delivered along Benedict Street. Others will come forward over the next three years, such as the link between Beckery Village and the regenerative farming centre on Porchestall Drove, while the electric bike hire scheme aims to be up and running by the end of 2024.

COST: £2.75m (all funding from the town deal – but other additional funding is being explored)

Enhancing St. Brigid's Chapel and Field

PROJECT DETAILS: the Friends of St. Bride's Mound are working with the South West Heritage Trust and the Somerset Wildlife Trust to create a new year-round visitors' centre at this historic site west of Morlands Road. This 33-acre site, which contains some of the earliest monastic remains ever found in Britain, is also a scheduled ancient monument, which is of great importance to both Christians and pagans. Local stone will be used to mark out the footprint of the chapel, and new planting and footpaths will improve the appearance and accessibility of the local area.

STATUS: No start date for this project has yet been confirmed by the Glastonbury town deal board, though a planning application for the improvements is expected to come forward within the next 12 months.

COST: £730,000 (£670,000 from the town deal, £60,000 from other sources)

The Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre

PROJECT DETAILS: Spearheaded by the Glastonbury Agricultural Project community interest company (CIC), this project will see the creation of a new "community-led agroecological facility" on land south of Porchestall Drove. The facility will be designed to aid people's understanding and experience of producing food sustainably, with the food being grown on site being used locally to improve resilience in the supply chain. Local schools and colleges will be invited to participate, with wetlands and a forest school being included within the 20-acre site.

STATUS: A planning application was submitted to Somerset Council in early-May, with a decision being expected by the autumn.

COST: £1.93m (£1.13m from the town deal, £800,000 from other sources)

The Beckery Village enabling project

PROJECT DETAILS: there are more than 120 people in Glastonbury who form the "non-bricks and mortar" community, living in caravans or on the roadside in "non-regularised areas", creating numerous local challenges. To provide a safe area for these communities, and enable other projects within the Beckery Village area to proceed, Somerset Council is currently identifying an alternative local site where amenities can be provided. These efforts are completely independent of a separate decision – taken by Mendip District Council in July 2022 – to sell off part of the Morlands site on Beckery Old Road.

STATUS: While the council has identified a site, its location has not been made public. Mendip representatives stated in January that it would be carrying out an environmental impact assessment to ensure the site was suitable, before a planning application was submitted later in the year.

COST: £3.28m (£1.46m from the town deal, £1.82m from other sources)

Creating a community health and well-being centre at St. Dunstan's House

PROJECT DETAILS: Glastonbury Town Council is seeking to revamp St. Dunstan's House on Magdalene Street, building a new atrium which will link the building to Glastonbury Town Hall to create a "multi-purpose community space" in the town centre. Community groups will be able to hire covid-safe spaces for meetings and activities, with support being provided about healthy living, computer skills and finding employment.

STATUS: A formal planning application was submitted to Mendip District Council in December 2022, with Somerset Council expected to make a decision by the summer.

COST: £1.74m (£1.39m from the town deal, £350,000 from other sources)

The Glastonbury Abbey piazza

PROJECT DETAILS: The entrance to the world-famous Glastonbury Abbey is currently "tucked away" on Magdalene Street and is "somewhat underwhelming". To address this, the abbey will enhance the visitor and reception areas, creating an attractive piazza space with a new ticket office, toilets, shop and café. The piazza will also serve as a covid-safe meeting space for the entire population to use and enjoy.

STATUS: Mendip District Council granted planning permission for the project in February, with work expected to begin on-site by September to avoid clashing with the summer tourist season. The whole project is expected to be finished by May 2024.

COST: £1.44m (£940,000 from the town deal, £500,000 from other sources)

Creating the Glastonbury community sports and leisure hub

PROJECT DETAILS: Somerset Council and Fusion Lifestyle Ltd. are leading this project to revamp and extend the existing "substandard" Tor Leisure Centre on Oriel Drive. The existing clubhouse will be turned into a "multi-use sports and leisure building" near the town centre, with a new "centre of excellence" to support opportunities in sport, education, health and well-being. More than 50 local clubs will be able to use the site, including the town's cricket and bowls teams, with new paths being delivered on the edge of the grassier areas to aid accessibility.

STATUS: Mendip District Council approved plans for the project in December 2022

COST: £2.38m (£2.09m from the town deal, £290,000 from other sources)