Plans to establish a food and regenerative farming centre in Glastonbury have been formally terminated in the wake of the Life Factory scandal, which involved the mismanagement of nearly £3 million in public funds.
Somerset Council chief executive Duncan Sharkey issued an apology on December 9 for the mistakes made during the Life Factory project. The initiative aimed to renovate part of the Red Brick Building on Morland Road into a multifunctional community events space but ultimately failed, prompting an audit by Grant Thornton.
Following a detailed ‘lessons learned’ report, the council has confirmed that the regenerative farming centre project, part of the Glastonbury town deal, will not proceed. Efforts are now focused on recouping funds provided to Red Brick Building Centre Ltd. (RBBCL), the organisation responsible for overseeing delivery.
The intended centre was to be situated on farmland south of Porchestall Drove, nestled between the Sydenham Timber Centre and Bride’s Mound – the latter is also undergoing regeneration through the town deal. Having received planning permission in October 2023, it was envisioned as a community-driven agro-ecological facility aimed at educating people on sustainable local food production and ecosystem stewardship.
Initially announced in May 2023, the project promised to teach residents how to work harmoniously with the land to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and bolster food resilience. Its aims included inspiring smallholders and gardeners, reducing food miles through local produce, and enhancing physical and mental well-being in the community.
The majority of the site would have been dedicated to agricultural activities such as crop cultivation, alongside an apothecary and herb garden, wetlands restoration, and a forest school educational area. Infrastructure plans included a processing barn, roundhouses for training purposes, shipping container kitchens and offices, poly-tunnels, and composting toilets.
Additionally, the site was to be connected via new footpaths developed under the Robert Richards initiative—a separate town deal project linking the centre to the Life Factory and other developments within Beckery Village.
However, the recent report clarified that the project, funded with £1,257,368 from the Glastonbury town deal programme and delivered by RBBCL through the Bridies Farm community interest company (CIC), is being terminated. Somerset Council has begun reclaiming £115,715 of allocated funds due to contractual and management complexities, not due to performance issues with the delivery staff involved.
It remains unclear if the regenerative farming project can be revived through a different delivery partner before the town deal funding deadline in March 2027. The council is expected to decide on the reallocation of the Glastonbury towns fund grant at its executive meeting scheduled for January 7, 2026.