Glastonbury Town Deal is entering an exciting phase with construction work well underway at the Sports & Leisure Hub, Glastonbury Abbey and most recently St Dunstan’s House.
In addition to these projects work is already progressing well at Bridie’s Farm and will start shortly at the largest project, Baily’s Buildings.
Glastonbury successfully secured £23.6 million of Towns Fund grant from Government in September 2022 to deliver projects in its Town Investment Plan. The programme is made up of 10 ambitious projects which all have regeneration and sustainability at their heart. These projects have been shaped by the community, for the community.
One of the projects which is currently a hive of activity is Glastonbury Abbey Piazza. Due to complete later this year the abbey is significantly enhancing the main entrance to improve the visitor experience and create connectivity with the town centre. Janet Bell MBE, Glastonbury Abbey Director said:
“The Town Deal Project has provided a wonderful opportunity to develop our visitor entrance into one that truly reflects the abbey’s historical, archaeological and spiritual significance. While the current facilities will be refurbished and expanded, the surrounding entrance area will be opened up into a community space complete with sympathetic landscaping, informative displays and free access to St Patrick’s Chapel.
“The site has come a long way since building contractor Qube began work on the project in March, and it has been very exciting to watch the entrance’s transformation take shape. We look forward to welcoming our visitors, both old and new, upon its completion.”
Marie-Claire Henon the Project Deputy representing the Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre said:
“Now into our second year on the land at Bridie’s Farm, work is well underway to put down the roots of Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre. Including an official change of use for the Organic site, to extend from purely agricultural, and encompass educational usage too, we have the go ahead to develop the space for exploring our connection with food and nature locally in this wonderful setting.
“Our ever-growing and dedicated community volunteering group meets weekly on the land and have been enthusiastically getting stuck into establishing the growing infrastructure, while the pilot Forest School sessions have been successful for school and home education groups alike. Our next open day is 22nd September, including our ‘Everything Glastonbury’ scarecrow trail. We look forward to seeing you then!”
Pleased at seeing the projects progress, Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, Chair of the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, said:
“I want to thank everyone who is giving their time, skills and support to the delivery and success of all the different projects. They will each bring many benefits to Glastonbury. This is a very exciting time with much to celebrate.”
Cllr Ros Wyke, Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets at Somerset Council, said:
“So much work has gone into getting our projects to this stage and I’m delighted that our residents, visitors and businesses are starting to see tangible progress.
“Inevitably programmes of this size and complexity encounter challenges along the way and our Town Deal is no different. The costs of construction have risen considerably since the successful submission of the Town Investment Plan, and that has impacted Town Investment Plans all over the country.
“Each project in the Town Investment Plan has its own budget. The responsible body for each organisation manages the project and budget, ensuring the project can either be delivered within the funding or apply for match funding from other sources.
“As the Accountable Body for the Glastonbury Town Deal, Somerset Council is responsible for the proper use and administration of Town Deal funding. The role also requires us to report to Government on areas covering expenditure, progress, risks, outputs, and outcomes. As has already been reported, building work on one of our projects, The Life Factory, to restore Building C of the Red Brick Building, has been paused at present while a thorough and independent audit is carried out. Somerset Council, as the accountable body, needs to be assured that the governance and financial management is appropriate for the project.”
With all the projects and due to be completed by the end of March 2026 this is a transformational period for Glastonbury and there will be a lot more news to follow as the projects progress. For more information about the programme visit www.glastonburytowndeal.co.uk
