Somerset Council is taking active steps to recover public funds tied to a troubled regeneration effort in Glastonbury after the principal contractor went into liquidation. The project, known as the Life Factory, involved renovating the Red Brick Building on Morland Road under the £23.6 million Glastonbury town deal, aiming to convert the derelict ‘Building C’ into a community space with offices and event facilities.
In January 2024, the council halted funding for the Life Factory project amid growing concerns over its management. A subsequent report by the South West Audit Partnership (SWAP) in May 2025 strongly criticized the project’s oversight. Beckery Construction Company Ltd., contracted for the £2.89 million project, entered liquidation in early November.
The council is actively cooperating with Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s ongoing investigation and is exploring ways to reclaim the funding invested in the project.
READ MORE: Home Secretary Criticises Bridgwater MP Over Migrant Hotel Use Comments
READ MORE: Three New Children’s Homes to Open in Somerset with £1.5m Government Grant
Concerns surfaced as early as May 2024 when local residents reported that workers—including bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, and laborers—had not been paid since March. The situation escalated during a March 2025 full council meeting when health and safety consultant Jonathan Wilkins revealed the tragic suicide of his wife Angela, attributing the distress to the project’s pressures.
By late September, Taunton resident Brenda Orr warned of a potential taxpayer loss of up to £2.4 million, particularly if the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) sought to reclaim grant funds. Deputy Leader Liz Leyshon reassured the public that an appraisal of the Red Brick Building’s future would be addressed before Christmas and stressed that the council bore no liability for creditors related to the original grant agreement.
On November 5, a closed-door meeting of the council’s executive committee reviewed a report on the Life Factory project, but details remain confidential due to commercial sensitivity and the ongoing police investigation.
A council spokesperson commented: “This is a complex matter, and we are working through a series of actions to protect public funds and manage risks for the local community – including consideration of seeking recovery of funding already allocated through appropriate means. We referred concerns to the police earlier this year and continue to cooperate fully. We cannot provide further details at this stage to ensure due process is followed.”