Planning permission has been granted by Somerset Council for the creation of a £2 million "regenerative farming centre" on the Somerset Levels.

This development is part of broader regeneration plans for Glastonbury, which was one of only two towns in Somerset to receive funding from the government's towns fund. A total of £23.6 million has been earmarked for projects aimed at rejuvenating the town centre and bolstering the local economy.

Earlier, in September 2022, planning permission had been secured for two other projects: the Glastonbury community sports and leisure hub on A361 Street Road and the revamp of the entrance to Glastonbury Abbey on Magdalene Street. Two more projects, the regeneration of Baily's Buildings on Beckery Old Road and the creation of a health and well-being hub at St. Dunstan's House on Magdalene Street, are still under consideration.

The newly approved Glastonbury food and regenerative farming centre is planned for construction on Porchestall Drove by 2026. The site lies south of Porchestall Drove, between Sydenham Timber Centre and Bride's Mount, which is also slated for regeneration.

The farming centre is envisioned as a "community-led agroecological facility" focusing on hands-on learning. Its aim is to help people gain knowledge and experience in local food production while working in harmony with the land. It intends to improve soil quality, support biodiversity, and enhance natural ecosystems.

A spokesman for the Glastonbury Town Deal described the centre as a means to inspire "smallholders, landowners and gardeners to care for the land in harmony with nature, thereby increasing food resilience and improving the mental and physical well-being of local residents."

The site will feature a variety of agricultural activities, including crop growing, an apothecary and herb garden, wetlands, and a forest school. A processing barn will also be constructed, along with roundhouses for training, shipping containers for kitchens and offices, and composting toilets. Provision for 26 car parking spaces and 20 cycle spaces is also included in the plan.

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New footpaths linking the site to the Beckery Village area are to be developed as part of another separate town deal initiative known as the Robert Richards project.

The farming centre project has formed partnerships with local educational institutions including St. Dunstan's and St. Benedict's Schools, Strode College, and the Skills and Education Group. These partners will utilise the site for delivering outdoor learning experiences and nature-based education.

The total budget for the site is £1.93 million, of which £1.13 million will be funded through the Glastonbury town deal and the remaining £800,000 will be match funded from other sources.

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