Full Breakdown
Birnbeck Pier Restoration Nears Quarter Completion, Aiming for Summer Re-opening
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Restoration Milestone
North Somerset Council reports that work on the Grade II*-listed Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare is roughly a quarter finished. The project, which began in February, has installed the first deck spans and will continue fitting the remaining sections over the coming months. Council leader Mike Bell says the pier is on schedule and budget, and that the work will allow the structure to reopen to the public next summer.
Historical Background
Birnbeck Pier, locally known as “The Old Pier,” opened in 1867 and once hosted funfairs, rides, and steamer ferries linking the mainland to the island. Safety concerns forced its closure in 1994, and the pier has since suffered storm damage. Earlier attempts to revive the pier failed, and the council nearly abandoned the project in September 2025 after the RNLI withdrew support. The National Lottery Heritage Fund subsequently covered a £5.5 million shortfall, enabling the restoration to proceed.
Funding and Scope
The total restoration budget is £44 million, sourced from the UK Government, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England. Work includes repairing the 1888 boathouse, renovating pavilion buildings, restoring the historic clock tower and turnstiles, and recycling reclaimed wood into furniture. The pier is the only UK structure that directly connects the mainland to an island.
Official Statements & Responses
Mike Bell expressed confidence that the project will deliver significant heritage, cultural, tourism and economic benefits for Weston-super-Mare, outweighing its cost. Gary Page, operations director at Mackley Construction, highlighted the technical challenges of the undertaking and confirmed that temporary works are complete, allowing construction to progress through the winter.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At the moment [we are] 100% confident. We're on time, on budget, you can see the progress they're making. It's astonishing.” — Mike Bell
- “We're about a quarter of the way down on the build now. It brings to life we're doing it, we're refurbishing and restoring the pier. It will reopen next year.” — February. Bell
- “It's a challenging project because it's not like something that's been done before.” — Mackley Construction, operations director