Glovers Walk
The Glovers Walk site situated at the eastern end of Yeovil town centre was acquired by Somerset Council in September 2024, thanks to central government grant funding via the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).
The 2.2-acre site has now been demolished and the bus station accommodation brought back onto the site.
The Council is working in partnership with local community and groups to deliver “meantime “ uses for the site while we work on a longer-term development plan for the site. This short-term approach will build on consultation and engagement activity with businesses, residents and the wider public.
‘Meantime’ use refers to a timeframe of 1 to 3 years and is expected to offer a range of activities, amenities and green space which will make positive use of the site, while contributing to and supporting the evolution of the town centre.
The longer-term planning is also in progress. This would cover a timeframe of 3 to 5 years for development of the site and its surrounding area. It is expected that short-term plans will lead to long-term benefits, creating a sustainable and flexible mixed-use development. This will help make the area stronger and support its economic growth. A new transport interchange forms part of these plans, creating a positive and attractive gateway to Yeovil.
Your questions about Glovers Walk
Now the demolition is finished what will happen next?
We are now working in the next few months to reinstate pathways through the site, grassing the site, installing street furniture and safety fencing.
Structural demolition (the buildings themselves) will start to take place from late February 2025 with demolition equipment moving to the site early in the new year. These works are expected to take approximately 5 to 6 months.
Why did the demolition taking place?
The Glovers walk site had fallen into disrepair with only a small number of businesses on the site. The opportunity was taken to purchase and demolish the site so that we can stimulate regeneration of this area of the town.
What is the timeframe for the ‘meanwhile use’ and ongoing works?
Somerset Council partners, Love Yeovil and Yeovil Art Space were commissioned to gain the views and opinions of the local community and organisations in developing the Glovers Walk site and the wider town centre. The purpose will be to create an attractive, flexible space that supports Yeovil’s economy and benefits residents, businesses and visitors.
Due to the time needed to develop plans there will be an unavoidable gap between the demolition and the new long-term development. During this time, we want to make sure that the site is put to good use in the meanwhile, rather than standing empty.
Meanwhile, use for the site would span a timeframe of 1 to 3 years, with an ongoing programme of engagement over the coming 12 to 18 months with residents, businesses, local groups and organisations and the wider community to help shape the long-term master planning work for the site.
We expect to commence this work once the site reinstatement is completed and seeding has settled in. This should be during the summer 2026.
What is involved in the long-term plan for the site and what is the timeframe for this?
Work to develop the long-term plan will be a progression of the meantime use for the site. This has meant the development and adoption of a wider masterplan for the town centre.
This will include:
- Building viability assessments for the Glovers Walk site and the adjacent Wilko site
- Developing outline designs
- Exploring long term uses for the site
- Securing a development partner
- Obtaining planning consents
- All of the activities associated with major developments of this type
The construction of a new long-term development would be expected to start within 3 to 5 years.
Somerset Council is now in the process of clarifying what the site will be used for. The indicative masterplan for developing the site will be shared in the early summer of 2026.
What do early-stage findings say people would like to see happen at the Glovers Walk site?
Over 400 people responded to the first engagement survey launched towards the end of last year, in partnership with Love Yeovil and Yeovil Art Space. A further 30 people from diverse community groups also took part in five creative consultation sessions in November and December 2024. The responses and outputs showed huge positivity and enthusiasm for the future of Yeovil, with initial findings key to shaping a vision for Glovers Walk.
What will the bus station look like and what will the access be?
Throughout the demolition process and after, appropriate facilities will continue to be available serving bus station users. This will include a passenger waiting room and the reintroduction of accessible public toilets.
What facilities will be at the bus station?
Throughout the demolition process and after, appropriate facilities will continue to be available serving bus station users. This will include a passenger waiting room and the reintroduction of accessible public toilets.
What will the flattened site look like?
It will be an open space which will be grassed over with pathways to access the bus station from Middle Street. The bus station facilities will also be located on this space.
Grant funded developments
Somerset Council is working with three sites to enable the creation of more commercial and residential space within the town centre. The residential elements of these sites will be affordable and targeted at key workers supporting the local economy. The three sites are:
- 18-21 Wyndham Street comprising 48 Units of accommodation with a mix of 1 and 2 bedrooms
- 96 Middle Street: commercial uses on Ground Floor. 9 units of accommodation
- 66 Middle Street: commercial uses on Ground Floor and basement. 10 units of accommodation.
Construction or refurbishment is underway and we expect completion in 2027. Once completed, these developments will support the regeneration of the wider area attracting more people into the town centre.