Dan Aldridge MP Secures £19 Million to Complete Birnbeck Pier Restoration

Weston-super-Mare’s MP, Dan Aldridge, has secured a further £19 million in Growth Mission funding to complete the restoration of the town’s iconic Birnbeck Pier, following months of lobbying Government to close a critical funding gap.

With the first phases of restoration already progressing at pace – including essential repairs to the island sea wall and stabilisationworks on the boathouse, clock tower pavilion and landside cliff face, completed in 2024 – a significant shortfall remained to deliver future stages of the project.

Dan has been working directly with the Chancellor and North Somerset Council to ensure Weston did not miss out and that Birnbeck’s long-awaited revival could move forward.

The £19 million investment unlocks future phases of the project, enabling the full restoration of the Grade II listed North Jetty and supporting Birnbeck’s transformation into a sustainable, year-round heritage, training and community destination.

The funding will support:

• Creation of new indoor space for training and exhibitions along with hospitality and community space

• Restoration of the historic clock tower and turnstiles

• Full repair and reuse of the 1888 boathouse

• Renovation of pavilion buildings

• Rebuilding the Grade II listed North Jetty, enabling the return of heritage vessels

Once complete, the fully reopened pier is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, generating millions of pounds in local spending and supporting Weston’s hospitality, retail and tourism sectors. The project will also create construction jobs in the short term, alongside permanent roles in culture, heritage and visitor services.

The restoration therefore brings visible regeneration, opportunity and civic pride to an area that has experienced long-term economic disadvantage.

Dan Aldridge MP said:

“When a funding gap emerged, I made it clear to Government that Weston could not afford to miss out. I have been working with ministers to ensure Birnbeck gets the backing it deserves.

Securing this money means we can now move forward with the full restoration of one of the most remarkable landmarks anywhere in the country.

But this project has always been about more than simply restoring a pier. My focus is making sure Birnbeck becomes sustainable for the long term – a place that serves our community as well as tourists.

That means the opportunities to create spaces for training, local events, hospitality venues, and community activities so the pier can be alive all year round, not just in the summer months.

Birnbeck should be a hub for Weston – somewhere people come together, where opportunities are created and where the whole town can feel proud again.

For too long the pier stood as a symbol of decline. Now it will become a symbol of Weston’s comeback.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

“My economic plan to build a stronger and more secure economy is the right one – cutting the cost of living, cutting the national debt, and creating the conditions for growth through investment.

“Backing Weston-super-Mare with this £19 million investment is part of this plan. The restoration of the iconic Birnbeck Pier will make the area a more attractive place to live, work, visit and start a business in the years to come.”

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said:

“£19m is a game-changing amount of money – I can’t underestimate what today’s announcement means. Not only is it great news for our project to restore Birnbeck Pier but this will boost growth and create a more prosperous future for local people.

“The additional funding will enable us to carry out work to buildings on the landside and island, and we hope will also fulfil our ambition to restore the north jetty. This will bring the Grade II* Listed pier site fully back to life as a heritage and visitor attraction of significant national importance.

“I’d like to thank our local MP, Dan Aldridge, for pushing hard to secure this extra funding. I worked closely with Dan to promote this bid.

“Well done to our team for the part they played. They are working hard to ensure rapid delivery. Additional work on the landside will be carried out first by our contractor Smith & Brenson, who is already on site. Work to repair and renovate the island buildings and the north jetty is expected to follow once access is available along the pier.”

Neil O'Donoghue, the Business Director of the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, said:

“We are absolutely delighted with this wonderful news. For the Government to release such significant funding for Birnbeck Pier, an important piece of local history held so dearly by so many people in Weston and far beyond, is truly remarkable.”

With contractors already on site and heritage partners fully engaged, Birnbeck Pier is now on track to become a flagship example of heritage-led regeneration, delivering lasting economic, cultural and social benefits for Weston-super-Mare.”

The Growth Mission Fund, through which this investment is being delivered, is focused on supporting projects that have been previously overlooked but which are crucial for local growth, create jobs and support the regeneration and maintenance of heritage and culture assets.