The construction company behind Glastonbury's troubled Life Factory development has gone into liquidation — owing more than £686,000 and leaving dozens of local firms out of pocket.

Beckery Construction Company Ltd, set up by Red Brick Building Centre to deliver the £2.89 million project, has just £4,800 left in assets. A creditors' meeting has been called for Tuesday, 12 November.

The firm was tasked with transforming the Red Brick Building site into a creative hub using Town Deal funding. But the matched investment never came, spending spiralled, and the project stalled after Somerset Council froze payments.

An official audit found widespread financial mismanagement — missing paperwork, no clear budget controls, and public money paid out with little oversight. Despite that, more than £2.3 million was signed off before the council pulled the plug.

Now, 26 local businesses — most of them small contractors — are facing huge losses. Liquidators will investigate who was paid and why, and whether the company continued trading after becoming insolvent. Somerset Council could also face scrutiny over its handling of the funds.

The Life Factory site remains unfinished, with no roof, no contractor and no plan to restart. A police investigation is ongoing.

More local stories:

• Town falls silent as Glastonbury pays its respects
• Explained: How Glastonbury's £3m Life Factory project unravelled — and what happens next
• Glastonbury site delay confirmed as Somerset eyes 'temporary' fix

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