Morlands, Glastonbury

Morlands is a 31-acre site that will be transformed into a mixed-use enterprise and business park. The site formerly housed the extensive Morlands and Bailys tanneries until the decline of the sheepskin market and their own eventual closure in 1982 and 1992 respectively. Now owned by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Morlands is the largest derelict site in Somerset and has been dubbed 'the worst eyesore in Britain' by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Gillespie Yunnie Architects were commissioned by Urban Splash to look at two sections of the site and generate ideas for the conversion of retained existing buildings and the strategic planning of adjacent development sites. Our strategy has been to retain only the very best of the historic fabric, including an iconic building in the Bauhaus style, while carefully inserting contemporary new structures and public spaces to create an exciting, humane and vibrant business community.