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The application was submitted on Friday (13 December) by Haverstock, our appointed architects for the project.
Proposals for a future phase of restoration and renovation work include:
- fitting out the South Toll House (Grade II Listed), Shell Shop and Pier View landside buildings
- reinstating the landside historic Grade II Listed gate line
- work to stabilise the pavilion on Birnbeck Island and create a new toilet block
- refurbishing and fitting out the 1888 boathouse, to include a café with accessible toilet and a flexible recreational community space
- public realm work including installing lighting and information points, creating safe public access on the island, landscaping and work on the car park.
This package of work is subject to an additional bid for funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is due to be decided in the spring.
The overall redevelopment will need multiple planning applications.
The latest application can be found on our website.
The planning application reference is 24/P/2439/R3 and the Listed Building application is 24/P/2440/RLA.
The current anticipated Birnbeck Pier project timeline is:
- autumn 2024 to winter 2024 – island sea wall repairs, stabilise 1888 boathouse and landside cliff face stabilisation
- spring 2025 to winter 2025 – repair and renovation of the landside buildings
- summer 2025 to summer 2026 – pier deck construction and repair work to strengthen the pier
- summer 2026 to summer 2027 – repair and renovation of the island buildings
- autumn 2026 to spring 2028 – building work to create a new RNLI lifeboat station and visitor centre.
First stage of restoration work completed
The first stage of restoration work in the Birnbeck Pier project has been completed this week.
A huge amount of work has taken place in the last 10 weeks by our specialist contractors TMS and Vertical Technology so that this first phase could be completed on time and within budget.
It’s been funded by the UK government as part of our work to improve Weston-super-Mare, thanks to our successful bid from the former Levelling Up Fund.
TMS led on work to protect public safety and integrity of the land, buildings and structures on Birnbeck Island.
This included removing asbestos safely, repairing sea walls, stabilising the 1888 boathouse, and installing security fencing and welfare facilities.
As the work was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, we were able to instruct them to carry out additional work on the clock tower and pavilion.
Vertical Technology led on making the cliff face between Birkett Road the Pier Master’s Cottage safe. To do this, specialists abseiled down the cliff face to carry out repairs.
More work to demolish a small modern block building will happen early in the new year once asbestos has been safely removed.
Parts of this work were needed so that the later phases – restoring the pier itself and re-establishing the RNLI Weston-super-Mare lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island – can take place.
The RNLI recently submitted planning applications for the pier and the creation of a new lifeboat station on the island.
Work on the landside buildings is due to start next spring so they can reopen to the public in 2025.
The restoration project has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the RNLI, UK government, the National Memorial Heritage Fund and Historic England. Thanks to The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and Friends of the Old Pier Society for their ongoing help and support.
Find out more about the Birnbeck Pier project by visiting the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust’s information hub next to the pier or by visiting our website.