North Somerset Council now owns Birnbeck Pier
North Somerset Council succeeds in a court case against the private owner of Weston's Birnbeck Pier to allow them to acquire the Victorian structure.
Birnbeck Holdings Ltd reached an agreement on 13 July to sell Birnbeck Pier to North Somerset Council, effectively avoiding the need for a legal Compulsory Purchase Order Public Inquiry which was scheduled to take place in August. The sale price of £400k will be funded by the RNLI, enabling North Somerset Council and the charity to jointly commence immediate restoration work on Birnbeck Pier without further delays.
Work will start onsite in the coming weeks, beginning with tidying up the car park area, erecting fencing, and putting up safety signage. Haverstock Associates and engineers have been appointed to work with the council and the RNLI to develop detailed designs for the repair works to the pier and associated buildings, followed by planning and marine consent applications.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, expressed excitement about taking control of Birnbeck Pier’s future, thanks to unwavering support from partners and substantial funding. The goal is to prevent any further collapse and renovate the pier and its buildings for the enjoyment of future generations in Weston-super-Mare.
As part of the sale agreement, North Somerset Council has agreed to lease an area on the pier approach for parking to Birnbeck Holdings Ltd and provide permits in the Madeira car park if a development on the former Royal Pier Hotel site is completed before July 2033.
The Council’s ownership of Birnbeck Pier includes leasing an area of the island to the RNLI for the construction of a new lifeboat station. An updated formal agreement outlines how the Council and RNLI will work together to swiftly restore public access to the pier and reinstate the vital life-saving service from the island.
Duncan Macpherson, RNLI Principal Estates Manager, expressed gratitude for the Council’s commitment to securing a long-term base for the RNLI’s lifesaving operations in Weston. He emphasised that Birnbeck Island is the safest and most effective location for the volunteer crew to launch and recover their lifeboats, providing a lifesaving service for the town at all states of tide.
Funding for the pier’s restoration is planned in three phases, including emergency funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund of £3.55m to strengthen the pier ‘legs’ and create an interim walkway onto the island, a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and £4.4m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Duncan Wilson CBE, Chief Executive of Historic England, applauded the efforts of all involved parties and expressed delight in knowing that the repair and restoration of this important Victorian pier can now commence.
Overall, this agreement marks a pivotal moment in Weston-super-Mare’s history. The Council, RNLI, and various partners and funders have played crucial roles in making this momentous day possible. For more information about the Birnbeck Pier project, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject.