A planning application has been submitted to establish a new Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre.

This project is part of the Glastonbury Town Deal project, which represents a £23.6 million investment in the town.

The proposed site will occupy approximately 20 acres of under-used pastureland just outside Beckery Village, and will operate as a community-led agroecological facility. The centre will focus on food resilience and sustainability and aims to teach growers of all ages and backgrounds about natural methods for growing food and managing the land.

The centre will consist of a series of activities, including crop growth and processing, an apothecary and herb garden, a wetland and forest school, providing gathering and learning zones for the local community. The structures supporting the site will be small in scale and meld into the existing site landscape.

The project will tackle climate change, grow the economy, reduce deprivation, and improve health and wellbeing. Through hands-on learning, people of all ages and backgrounds will learn how to work with the land, improving soil quality, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing natural ecosystems. The project also aims to inspire smallholders, landowners, and gardeners to care for the land in harmony with nature, and increase food resilience.

The submission of this planning application marks a significant step in the development of this project, representing a major investment in the future of the town.

Glastonbury was one of 101 towns chosen to receive investment through the government's Towns Fund scheme as part of its Levelling Up agenda. Following the submission of comprehensive Business Cases for each project, formal confirmation of £23.6million funding was received in September 2022, securing this once-in-a-generation funding that is set to revitalise the town.

All of the Town Deal funding must be spent by the end of March 2026 and the plan is to hold an annual event in March each year to update the local community on progress and next steps with all eleven projects. Project-specific events and open days may also be organised as the individual projects get underway.

The Glastonbury Town Deal projects aim to deliver a necessary 'levelling up' opportunity for the town, bringing existing assets back into community use, and working with local communities to develop the spaces and resources they want and need. The vision is for Glastonbury to be a sustainable, prosperous, modern town and global tourist centre, drawing on its rural landscape, history and unique legacy.