Factory's £6m revamp reaches 'exciting milestone'

A major revamp of a former sports equipment factory that manufactured Muhammad Ali's gloves has reached an "exciting milestone".

The first tenant is set to move into Glastonbury's Baily's Buildings as part of an ongoing £6m regeneration to transform the site into a hub for startups.

An unnamed tenant is to relocate about 35 full-time jobs to the site's West Building later this year, with plans to create a further 15 roles.

The Grade II-listed buildings were taken over by the Beckery Island Regeneration Trust (BIRT) in 2011. Ian Tucker, chair of BIRT, said finding the first tenant was an "exciting milestone" that proves the project's future viability.

"By bringing employment, education, history and community together, this project aims to put Glastonbury's industrial heritage back at the heart of the local community," he said.

The Baily's Buildings on Beckery Old Road opened as a tannery, glove and rug manufacturer in the 1800s, before later specialising in sports goods.

The buildings then became derelict after the factory was closed in the 1980s, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Planning permission for the renovation, which is being funded through some of the government's £23.6m Glastonbury Town Deal, was granted in 2023.

Renovation works are now being completed incrementally, allowing each new section to be marketed and rented out, so that rental income can be reinvested.

Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, said she was pleased to see this "important step forward" as the first tenant has been secured.

"Bringing these spaces back into use...will create new opportunities for our community while honouring the town's proud industrial heritage," she added.

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