Latest update from Festival and Events UK
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The long-term future of the Glastonbury Festival has been secured after permanent planning permission for the event was granted by councillors.
Since 2010, Glastonbury Festival Events Ltd. (GFEL) has had planning permission to hold the festival and other events at Worthy Farm on the basis of a rolling temporary planning permission – which is due to expire in 2024. Mendip District Council advised GFEL back in 2021 that a further extension to this temporary permission would not be allowed, since it was “contrary to best planning practice” as laid out by central government.
GFEL applied for the festival and associated events to have permanent planning permission, which would “provide more certainty and additional flexibility” in the years to come. In its final meeting before being abolished, the council’s planning board voted to approve the plans on Wednesday evening (March 29.
The approved plans allow the following activities to take place on the festival site in perpetuity:
The hosting of the Glastonbury Festival on a permanent basis once a year
The hosting of the annual Pilton Party
Camping events which can take place during festival fallow years
Agricultural use of the site outside of the festival period.
The permission also allows the “permanent regularisation” of the Pyramid Stage, along with a building currently used for storage and recycling, and the allocation of land to accommodate the temporary festival workforce. Nonetheless, the festival will still have to comply with the terms of its official licence, which sets limits on noise levels, crowd capacity and other matters.
A spokesman for Planning Sphere (representing GFEL) said: “The grant of planning permission will provide certainty and secure the future of the largest and most iconic music and performing arts festival in Europe.” The board approved the application by a margin of 11 votes to none, with one abstention.
Councillor Francis Hayden did not take any part in the debate, since he and his wife had worked with GFEL during the festival. Any future decisions regarding the festival’s licence or additional planning permissions will be handled by the new unitary Somerset Council, which officially assumes control on Saturday (April 1).
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Festivals & Events UK
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3 Responses
Money talks to loudly
Glastonbury is just another corporate entity
🙏🏻