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Work to restore crumbling historic pier approved

BBC Birnbeck Pier - you can see the collapsed walkway and the pier looks very old, rusty and dangerousBBC
Birnbeck Pier was shut in 1994 and has been deteriorating for many years

Work to restore a crumbling Grade II listed pier is set to begin later this year after the council approved a planning application.

Birnbeck Pier, in Weston-super-Mare, is in disrepair after being privately owned for several years, before being sold to North Somerset Council.

The first phase of the work, which includes restoring the Pier Master's Cottage and creating visitor facilities, has now been approved.

Councillor Mark Canniford said: "A great deal of unseen work has led us to this point and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved."

The plans submitted by Haverstock, the council’s appointed architect practice, include:

  • restoring Pier Master’s Cottage and reinstating the bell tower, extending the building to the north to create space for a café
  • creating other visitor facilities, including toilets
  • essential repairs to weatherproof the other landside buildings, known as Pier View, the old shell shop, and the South Toll House
  • stabilising buildings on the island, including The Pavillion, 1888 Boathouse and the clock tower
  • providing essential services and infrastructure to the whole site
Birnbeck Pier seen slightly from the left - you can see the disrepair, with rusty metal and the fallen walkway in the distance
The Victorian pier opened in 1867 and went on to play a vital role during World War Two as a site of experimental activities and weapons testing

The work, which is being funded by a £4.47m grant from the government's levelling up fund, will begin on the landside buildings to enable them to re-open to the public in 2025.

Following this, subsequent phases of the project will be able to take place, such as restoring the pier itself and re-establishing the RNLI’s lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island.

The pier is the only one in the UK to link to an island and served as an RNLI lifeboat station for 132 years, before the charity was forced to abandon it in 2014 following safety issues.

A year later, part of the walkway collapsed into the sea during a storm.

The council's executive member responsible for placemaking Mr Canniford said the "very complex restoration" would benefit Weston-super-Mare and the wider area.

The project has also received funding from the RNLI, National Heritage Memorial Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

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