Police have confirmed that no further action will be taken against Somerset Council following a year-long investigation into alleged fraud concerning a major regeneration initiative in Glastonbury.
The project centred on the Red Brick Building on Morland Road, where extensive renovations were planned as part of the £23.6 million Glastonbury town deal. The objective was to transform the derelict ‘Building C’ into a community events space, offices, and additional facilities.
Concerns over the management of the project led Somerset Council to officially pause funding in January 2024, following which the South West Audit Partnership issued a critical report in May 2025 highlighting significant shortcomings in the project’s administration.
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In October 2025, the council disclosed that Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s fraud team had launched a formal review of the project ahead of any potential criminal proceedings.
Nearly a year later, the police have concluded their investigation, determining there is insufficient evidence to pursue any further action against the council or other parties involved.
Duncan Sharkey, the council’s chief executive, addressed the matter briefly at the full council meeting in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (16 September). He stated: “I wish to inform the council that Avon and Somerset Constabulary have confirmed they will take no further action regarding the referral made by SWAP Internal Audit Services Partnership on behalf of the council concerning the Red Brick Building Centre-led Life Factory project in Glastonbury. I wanted members to be aware of this update from the police.”
In December 2025, Mr Sharkey formally apologised on behalf of Somerset Council for the errors made during the project’s management. He also noted that it was outside the council’s legal powers to provide compensation to businesses adversely affected.
Following the enquiry, a ‘lessons learned’ report was produced, leading to the implementation of measures aimed at preventing similar issues in future regeneration projects. These included securing match funding prior to project commencement and improving transparency in decision-making processes.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary issued a separate statement confirming the conclusion of their nearly 12-month investigation. A spokesperson said: “In 2025, we received a report from an auditing service acting on behalf of Somerset Council regarding the funding of the Life Factory renovation project in Glastonbury. Our enquiries have found insufficient evidence of criminality to justify further investigation; consequently, no action will be taken.”