Birnbeck Pier Receives £10 Million for Restoration Efforts

A Grade II listed pier, currently in a state of disrepair, has been allocated a £10 million funding package aimed at preventing its permanent loss. Birnbeck Pier, located in Weston-super-Mare, has suffered from disrepair for two decades, initially under private ownership before its acquisition by North Somerset Council. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has provided these funds to the council as efforts continue to restore and reopen the Victorian landmark for public access. Eilish McGuinness, the chief executive of the fund, stated: “Birnbeck Pier is set to be brought back from the brink of loss, ensuring its 160-year historic legacy is preserved for generations to come.” The initiative to reopen the pier, which is listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, is projected to conclude by Autumn 2027. This funding, contributed by National Lottery players, will facilitate the restoration of additional listed structures on the pier and its accompanying island, alongside the construction of a new RNLI lifeboat station. This announcement coincides with the 160th anniversary of the pier’s foundation stone being laid. Ms McGuinness commented: “This is great news for Weston-super-Mare and beyond. “We are proud to be part of this transformative project, which promises to enhance and regenerate the cultural and economic landscape of the area, provide local employment opportunities and be a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come.” Councillor Mike Bell, the leader of North Somerset Council, noted that £10 million represents a substantial sum. He further stated: “We’re so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their ongoing support of our project to restore Birnbeck Pier.” He also expressed: “I must also acknowledge and thank National Lottery players as this simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.” The pier stands as one of six Grade II listed piers in England and holds the distinction of being the sole pier in the UK that links the mainland to an island. During World War Two, it served a crucial function, having been commissioned for weapon trials, notably involving Sir Barnes Wallis’s renowned ‘bouncing bomb’. For updates, BBC Somerset can be followed on Facebook and X. Story ideas may be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Details regarding its approach to external linking are available.