£5.54m Lottery lifeline secures way forward for Birnbeck Pier restoration

The contract award was beforehand attributable to be decided on the July full council assembly however this was not attainable because of the RNLI withdrawing from the undertaking days earlier than.

Councillors have been set to contemplate the way forward for the restoration of the Birnbeck Pier construction and the main funding hole that positioned that ingredient of the undertaking at jeopardy. However, the choice required from them modified following information of The Heritage Fund’s award.

The contract has been awarded to Mackley, a specialist civil engineering contractor with intensive expertise and experience of working in a marine setting and with heritage constructions. This follows a aggressive open tender course of that came about between 30 January and 25 April 2025 that resulted in 4 bids.

The Grade II* Listed construction, the one pier within the nation to hyperlink to an island, consists of 15 units of forged iron trestles, topped with a wood deck with bench seating and lighting.

This section of the undertaking has been made attainable due to £15,544,799 in complete from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made up of this most up-to-date grant of £5,544,799 in full added to the £10m beforehand awarded in October 2024), along with funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the UK authorities and Historic England. This brings the whole of exterior funding secured for the restoration of the Birnbeck Pier construction to over £20m, reflecting the nationwide significance of the undertaking and the boldness funders have in its future.

North Somerset Council additionally dedicated capital funding to cowl threat contingency, making certain the undertaking is delivered responsibly and sustainably.

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, stated: “We had a setback earlier in the summer, but we promised to work right up until the eleventh hour to try to find a solution, and I am delighted our efforts have paid off. We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Put simply, this lifeline has saved the day. Without it, the future of Birnbeck Pier would have been in real danger. Thanks to National Lottery players, whose support makes this possible, we can now press on with plans to restore this extraordinary part of our coastal heritage for generations to come.”

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s cupboard member liable for the Birnbeck Pier undertaking, added: “Just a week ago we faced the prospect of closing the pier restoration project down. Today, it’s full steam ahead. This new funding proves national confidence in our plans. It safeguards a Victorian treasure, unlocks over £20m of investment and means we can crack on with restoring public access to the pier and island. Together with the approved work for the landside buildings, which is now underway, we have made great strides forward.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, stated: “Birnbeck Pier is a unique part of our coastal heritage that has been at risk of loss for over 25 years. The additional grant reflects our commitment to saving heritage at risk and investing in the communities it belongs to. The restoration of the pier is a transformational project, enhancing and regenerating the cultural and economic landscape of Weston-super-Mare and providing enjoyment for generations to come.

“Birnbeck Pier holds a special place in people’s hearts and memories. The energy and commitment of local people and organisations working hard to secure its future and place the pier back at the forefront of Weston-super-Mare has been integral to getting to where we are today. We know that any major project and investment of this scale will have risks, but we are committed to working collaboratively with North Somerset Council, Historic England and UK Government to make this project happen. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future and this project will do that.”

Work on the pier construction is because of begin by the tip of 2025 and take simply over a yr, finishing by the tip of 2026.

To discover out extra in regards to the Birnbeck Pier undertaking, go to the data hub subsequent to the pier or the council’s web site at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/BirnbeckPierChallenge.