Successful funding bid for Glastonbury hub

Efforts to deliver a new health and well-being hub in Glastonbury town centre have taken a huge step forward following a successful bid for government funding.

As part of the £23.6M Glastonbury town deal, the town council is working to deliver the St. Dunstan’s House community health and well-being centre, constructing a new atrium to link the building to the town hall.

The project – which was granted planning permission in October 2023 – will see internal renovations carried out within St. Dunstan’s House (located on Magdalene Street) to allow different groups to make the best use of the space.

The project has run into difficulty over the last 12 months due to additional repairs being needed to the existing roof and rising construction costs, with the town council hinting in October 2024 that it may have to borrow up to £850,000 to see it to completion.

Now the future is looking brighter following a successful bid to the government’s community ownership fund for £500,000, which will reduce the pressure on local taxpayers.

Dowlas Property Group Ltd., which has been managing the project, broke the news via its LinkedIn account shortly before the Christmas break.

A spokesman said: “We led the bid-writing process of securing £500,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This is fantastic news.

“The identification of this vital funding, as well as the full bid writing service is a good example of how Dowlas offer a bespoke, industry leading service that suits the particular needs and demands of any project no matter the size.

“Brilliant progress is being made on this valuable asset that will be transformed into a health and well-being hub in the heart of Glastonbury town centre.

“This isn’t just about the refurbishment of a building with significant historic value – it’s about creating a new facility from which the whole community can benefit.”

In addition to the roof repairs of the existing hub, Dowlas has been installing a new bat roost on the building, putting new attenuation tanks in place to reduce localise flood risks and carrying out archaeological assessments.

The new funding will enable the company to push forward with the construction of the new atrium linking St. Dunstan’s House to the town hall.

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke has welcomed the funding announcement, which came shortly after she lobbied deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP for “clarity on support for the project”.

She said: “This additional funding is fantastic news for Glastonbury.

“St. Dunstan’s House will become a vital hub, improving health and well-being while supporting community groups and local businesses.

“I was pleased to write to the secretary of state to push for clarity on this funding, and I’m delighted that the government has now recognised the value of this project and funded the town council’s application.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit to see the progress that’s been made. I commend the team and stakeholders who have worked so hard to bring this project to reality.

“Rural areas like ours need more outreach facilities for communities, careers, skills, and business support. This funding is a major step forward in addressing those challenges and helping local people thrive.

“This is a great example of what can be achieved when local councils, partners, and communities work collaboratively. I’ll continue to champion funding for vital initiatives like this that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

For more information on all the projects within the Glastonbury town deal, visit www.glastonburytowndeal.co.uk/the-projects.