More than £1million of funding from central government will be spent on delivering a new enterprise centre for Glastonbury by 2026.

Glastonbury was one of two Somerset towns (the other being Bridgwater) to benefit from the government's towns fund, securing £23.6m towards a dozen projects designed to protect and improve the town centre.

One of the projects entails converting the Beckery Resource Centre on Beckery Road into the Glastonbury Enterprise and Innovation Hub (GEIH), providing space for small businesses.

Somerset County Council has now confirmed that £1.2million of the Glastonbury town deal budget will be allocated towards delivering the new facility. In addition to providing office and meeting space for small businesses, the GEIH will include space for food manufacturing and digital skills training. The formal proposals submitted to the government by Mendip District Council in February 2021 identified that the centre would cost £1.59million to deliver, with £1.21million coming from the town deal and £380,000 from other resources. These figures have now been revised in light of inflation and higher construction costs, with £1.2million coming from the town deal and £500,000 being provided by the county council through its economic recovery fund – bringing the total budget to £1.7million. Harry Morris, the council's economic development officer, said: "The first element of the hub would provide covid-adapted office space for SMEs or micro-businesses on flexible terms. This would be accompanied by a business support offer.

"It will include provision of dedicated food manufacturing and development space with support from training and educational establishments.

"It will further include digital infrastructure and skills facilities, providing dedicated meeting or training rooms for training providers and would link to existing services across Somerset and Glastonbury." The GEIH is one of several projects designed to improve the Beckery area of Glastonbury within the town deal, enhancing the western gateway to the town and improving its existing offer for both commercial and community use.

The other projects include re-purposing the Bailys Buildings to include a visitors' centre and the new Glastonbury Environment Centre, completing the revamping of the Red Brick Building (where Glastonbury FM is based), and possibly delivering a new park and ride on Porchestall Drove.

Mr Morris added: The GEC is seen by Mendip District Council and central government as an anchor project for the town deal in the Beckery area.

"This project is pivotal for supporting the business community and other projects with their business support needs."