Skip to content
Large travellers’ site to be built as part of Somerset town centre regeneration scheme
A large travellers’ site will be built on the edge of a Somerset site as part of plans to regenerate the town centre.
Glastonbury was one of 101 towns across the UK – and one of only two in Somerset – which has received funding from the government’s towns fund, with £23.6m being provided for projects designed to enhance the town centre and improve the town’s fortunes. One of the 11 projects (dubbed the “enabling project”) involves creating a safe area for the “non-bricks and mortar community” to live, while allow other projects within the Beckery area of the town to proceed.
Somerset Council has now revealed that this project will be created on Porchestall Drove at the town’s western edge, with a mixture of permanent and temporary transit pitches being provided. The council has approved an initial planning inquiry (known as a screening request) for a site on the northern site of Porchestall Drove, which is currently in council ownership.
READ MORE: Travellers ‘smash’ through security bollards to camp on Somerset seafront site
The site lies immediately west of the Thomas West industrial estate and a short distance from the planned regenerative farming centre, which could be delivered by 2026. Up to 40 pitches will be provided within the site, with 19 pitches being for permanent residents and 21 forming a transit site for temporary accommodation (i.e. less than three months).
Both the permanent and transit elements of the site will have full access to utilities (i.e. electricity, water and toilets), with eight amenity buildings being provided with showers and washing facilities.
Once up and running, the site will be managed by the Elim housing association, with a manager and two site officers being recruited to operate the facilities and support the residents.
A spokesman for Mott McDonald (representing the council) said: “There are up to 300 people living in non-bricks and mortar (NBM) dwellings, including roadside and caravan dwellers – all in non-regularised areas which creates social, health, traffic congestion and economic challenges for a small town.
“Parking and/or barriers will be provided to encourage residents to park safely, allow access for emergency vehicles, and enable maximum use of the site in accordance with its intended capacity and fire safety standards. The road to and from the site will be of sufficient quality and size to enable access onto and off the site by heavy vehicles such as trailers, as well as refuge collection as necessary.”
The project is expected to cost £3.28m to deliver, with £1.46m coming from the town deal and the remaining £1.82m coming from other sources.
By providing this facility, it will allow work to begin on regenerating the Baily’s Buildings on Beckery Old Road (pending planning permission), delivering the Glastonbury enterprise and innovation hub and installing solar panels across numerous buildings as part of the Glastonbury Clean Energy Project.
A formal planning application for the travellers’ site is expected to be submitted later in the summer; if approval is granted, construction could begin before the end of the year.
