Historic Somerset pier to be returned to former glory as owners agree sale
North Somerset Council will work with the RNLI to turn Birnbeck Pier back into a lifeboat station
It's been confirmed a historic pier in Weston Super Mare will be renovated into a new lifeboat station as part of a deal to safeguard its future.
The plans for Birnbeck Pier have been on the cards for sometime but can now go ahead after the owners agreed to sell to North Somerset Council.
In a statement on their website, the council says it has agreed to work with the RNLI to create a new lifeboat station, which will once again give the public access to the Victorian pier.
"A significant programme of works to renovate the pier and provide a new lifeboat station will be phased over several years," the statement reads.
"This will be funded through a variety of sources including the RNLI, Historic England and other grants.
"North Somerset Council and the RNLI will work closely with, and be guided by, Historic England in order to collaborate and secure specific grants and trusts reserved for restoration and community projects to fund the venture."
It was back in June 2020 that the council first announced the RNLI were interested in moving back to the pier, which would improve their access to the water.
Cllr Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy, at North Somerset Council, said: “Thanks to the huge amount of work behind the scenes, we have finally reached this significant milestone and taken a massive step towards restoring Birnbeck.
"The private owner has agreed to sell the pier to the council, and we are keen to acquire Birnbeck as soon as possible."
Had the owner not agreed voluntarily to a sale, North Somerset Council had said they would pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to ensure the pier could be restored.
"I am delighted that we have been able to avoid the CPO process, which would have been overly complex and time consuming," Cllr Canniford said.
"Together with the RNLI and Historic England, we have found a solution that will allow us to renovate this stunning piece of Victorian architecture, bring the RNLI back to their original home, and welcome the public onto the pier again.
"There’s a great deal of work to do but this is the start of us finally able to begin plans to restore this treasured site.”
Duncan Macpherson, RNLI Principal Estates Manager said; “The RNLI is extremely grateful for the support and commitment of North Somerset Council in its determination to secure a long-term base for the RNLI’s lifesaving in Weston-super-Mare.
This announcement comes after many months of collaborative work between the two organisations and while the funding and engineering involved in such a project is incredibly challenging, the Council taking ownership of Birnbeck is an essential to the RNLI’s ambition to re-establish a lifesaving facility on the island.”
Birnbeck Pier is one of only six Grade II* piers surviving in the country.
There are four further Grade II structures and buildings located on the island and the landward end of the site.
The pier was designed by Eugenius Birch, the noted Victorian engineer.
Construction took place between 1862 and 1867, with the foundation stone being laid in 1864 and opening to the public from 1866.
The pier closed to the public for safety reasons in 1994.