Gary Lineker opens new social housing in Pilton

15th June 2023

Earlier today, Michael Eavis and his family welcomed ex-footballer and TV presenter Gary Lineker to Pilton to celebrate the completion of a further 20 social rent homes in the village, bringing the total number of affordable homes built on land donated by Michael to 52.

Gary Lineker planted a tree with Michael and his grandchildren at the site – named Athelstan’s Meadow – just around the corner from where the Festival takes place.

The land and the stone for these new houses – built by EG Carter in partnership with the Guinness Partnership – was provided free of charge from Worthy Farm with contributions for dressing the stone from the Workers Beer Company, who provide bars at the Festival.

“Pilton is really important to me,” says Michael. “It’s where I was born, where I have lived man and boy, where I have brought up my family, and, of course, it has been home to the Festival for more than 50 years now. With rural house prices so often out of reach for local people, these houses give villagers, most of whom are working families who live around here, the opportunity to live here for the rest of their lives at a social rent.”

“I started to build these houses 30 years ago with funding from the government and now that this scheme is finished, it brings the total number of houses available to 52. Of all the things I’ve done in my life, this is the one I’m most proud of.”

Ex-footballer David Beckham officially opened the previous set of homes to be completed at the site in 2017, with the the Prince of Wales opening the first wave of houses in 2010.