What started as a bold vision to transform Glastonbury's Red Brick Building has turned into one of the biggest Town Deal fiascos in the country.

The Life Factory project — a £3m creative hub backed by government funding — is now a scandal. The building is roofless, the builders have gone bust, and the police are investigating.

The grand plan

The Life Factory was meant to be the jewel of Glastonbury's £23.6m Town Deal. The idea: turn Building C into a buzzing centre with studios, youth services and community space.

But the group behind it — Red Brick Building Centre Ltd — never secured the required match funding. There was no planning permission. And their construction firm, Beckery Construction, didn't even have a formal contract.

Where the money went

Despite all that, Somerset Council paid out over £2.3m. Auditors now say there were no costed delivery plans, no inspections, and barely any oversight.

The building? Still a shell.

A linked food hub project has also collapsed, with the council now chasing back £115k.

Auditors sound the alarm

• SWAP rated the council's oversight "No Assurance" — the lowest possible score
• External auditors issued a statutory warning — the most serious in law
• Red flags were ignored. Inspections didn't happen. Public money vanished into thin air

Builders unpaid, police called

Beckery Construction collapsed in November owing £686,000. At least 26 contractors are still unpaid — some since March.

The council kept paying even after freezing the funds. Nearly half a million pounds went out after January.

Police are now formally investigating. Emotional testimony at council meetings has linked the scandal to a suicide.

What's next

The Life Factory, as pitched, is dead. An options review is under way, but no decision will be made until the police probe ends.

Somerset Council has promised no more money will be paid. It's setting up new controls and says it's exploring legal options to claw back funds.

Timeline of collapse

• 2020: £250k awarded in early funding
• 2022: Business case approved
• March 2023: Grant deal signed
• April 2023: Somerset takes control
• January 2024: Project frozen
• May 2025: Internal audit report
• June 2025: Police called in
• November 2025: Builders go bust
• December 2025: Council hit with statutory warning

Read more:

• Glastonbury builder collapses owing £686k
• Council slammed over £2.3m 'ghost build'
• Police confirm fraud probe into Life Factory

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