Birnbeck Pier restoration continues, but will the numbers add up?

Birnbeck Pier is making progress on its journey to return as a jewel in the crown of Weston-super-Mare with a 100-tonne crane being transported to the site and will be located near the Pier Masters Cottage at the entrance to the Pier, in the first major step in its £20 million programme of repairs.

A Grade II* listed structure and the only UK pier linking an island to the mainland, the re-generation of this iconic local asset is coming on leaps and bounds and there are many local residents who attribute this in part to the local MP; Dan Aldridge, and his work with North Somerset Council to push the project forward.

For over 30yrs the pier sat empty, falling into the sea as the ghosts of visitors from decades past haunted its decking.

For the last 20yrs the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust has worked tirelessly to encourage North Somerset Council to support them in their endeavour to bring the pier back to life.

Progress was made, but time and time again there was stumbling block after stumbling block as the piers ownership changed hands and its condition continued to detioriate.

After closing in 1994 due to neglect, it is now undergoing a major restoration following a move by North Somerset Council in July 2023 to officially acquire the Pier for £400,000 with funding provided by the RNLI.

However it was in 2024 and the election of a new MP in Labour’s Dan Aldridge, that the town at last had a homegrown lad representing them at a government level who understood what Birnbeck Pier mean to the people of Weston.

“I’ve always held a soft spot in my heart for Birnbeck Pier” said Dan Aldridge. “It’s an iconic part of Weston’s history and identity. It has stood empty for far too long, and its future matters deeply to our town. I’m determined to see real progress made so that this landmark can be restored, reopened and once again become a source of pride for our community. Weston deserves to see Birnbeck thriving again.”

Progress is continuing apace, supported by the £15.54m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and funding from other partners such as the National Heritage Memorial Fund, UK Government, and Historic England, the project now aims to restore the pier and bring back the RNLI lifeboat station on the island. 

The future however is far from certain.

Whilst North Somerset Council has been successful in securing much of the the funding to date, specialist building works such as Birnbeck Pier are all too often caught out by delays and unexpected costs, which risk the pier’s redevelopment making leaps and bounds before staring into the abyss of a funding black hole.

If that happens, more funding will be required to complete what would be a part finished project, and where that money would come from is currently far from clear.

But one thing remains certain, for as long Weston has an MP who works tirelessly for the betterment of our community, any challenges that may crop up are likely to be faced head on.