The Glastonbury Town Deal has secured £23.6 million investment for the town, representing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the objectives outlined in the Town Investment Plan
This project builds on the accelerator project in developing an iconic building for businesses, learning, young people and community uses.
The Life Factory is located at the Red Brick Building Centre. It will become the new creative heart of Glastonbury and provide a vibrant community space where artists, musicians, actors, makers and other local people can meet, eat, learn, collaborate, inspire and thrive.
The regeneration of this iconic building will deliver a multi-purpose spaces where people can share and develop their skills. Local people of all ages will have access to equipment and skills training, supporting the transition to further education and the workplace, as well as improving health and wellbeing.
State-of-the-art broadcast facilities will be used for training and creation, as will a dedicated music and performance arts zone. Local community radio station Glastonbury FM will relocate into a new Community Media Centre.
As well as having a focus on making, restoring and repairing, The Life Factory will be powered by locally produced green energy, supporting the town’s journey to net zero.
What is going to happen in the building?
The expansion of the Red Brick Building site will allow us to further deliver on Community, Arts, Education and Enterprise. We have lots of exciting plans afoot. These include:
• The Life Factory Open Workshop which is a makerspace, connecting local people with equipment so we can all get making and repairing!
• A community canteen with low-cost meals and an opportunity for people to get involved in the preparation of the meals, using vegetables grown on our sister project, the Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre.
• A recording studio and multi-media training suite for GFM.
• A dedicated space for young people to hang out and access youth provision.
Who will this project be for?
Everyone! The Town Deal funding was awarded to Glastonbury because it is an area of deprivation, so we want to ensure that those struggling financially can also use the building and have exciting things to do.
How long will it be before we can use the building?
Works started on-site in 2023 to stabilise the building and a new roof will soon be in place. We expect to open in late 2025!
Are you recruiting local people for the build?
Yes! We have set up the Beckery Construction Company and aim to recruit as many local people as possible. We are also offering apprenticeships and hold recruitment days at the Red Brick Building.
How will the building help Glastonbury become carbon neutral by 2030?
The Life Factory project has been awarded additional funding through the Robert Richards Initiative – another of the Glastonbury Town Deal projects – to increase the building’s capacity to conserve energy. We are looking into different options of renewable energy sources – particularly solar, hydro and wind.
