Birnbeck Pier and Tropicana works progress

The Birnbeck Pier and Tropicana schemes form part of a wider programme of regeneration across Weston’s town centre and seafront. Other sites earmarked for improvement include Grove Park, Marine Lake and the town centre.

Birnbeck Pier 

There’s an unmissable sight on the Weston skyline this week as a 100-tonne crane has arrived - officially kicking off the long-awaited works to save and restore the historic Grade II* Listed pier.

Work’s already started on Birnbeck Island and the landside buildings, but this marks a major milestone – the first restoration on the pier structure itself.

This is a huge step forward for our Birnbeck Pier regeneration project, which aims to restore and reopen the iconic Victorian pier at the heart of the town’s wider regeneration. 

The project is proudly supported by:  

• £15.74m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• £5.4m from UK government 
• £3.55m from National Heritage Memorial Fund 
• £1.1m from Historic England.  

Work on the pier structure is due to take just over a year, with completion due in summer 2027.

The Birnbeck Pier project is part of our ambitious placemaking vision for Weston. Our Improving Weston programme is helping to reinvent iconic heritage buildings, support local businesses, create new jobs and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future.

To find out more visit the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust information hub overlooking the pier or our website. 

The Tropicana

The first phase of improvement works at the iconic Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare has been completed. 

This marks a significant milestone in plans to revitalise one of the town’s most recognisable seafront landmarks.

We appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to carry out demolition and strip-out works to the former 1980s internal event space building. With this stage now finished, we will move forward with procurement for the next phase of the project.

Preparing a venue of national significance

Future works will focus on transforming the site into a major cultural and entertainment destination. Planned improvements include:

• Preparing new purpose-built indoor entertainment spaces
• Upgrading the outdoor arena, including improved drainage
• Repairing the historic 1930s promenade building
• Installing sustainable and renewable energy systems to boost efficiency and address climate challenges.

Our long-term vision is to elevate the Tropicana into a nationally significant multi-use venue capable of hosting large-scale events while serving the local community year-round.

Until construction resumes, the building’s doors and windows will be boarded up to protect the site.

The works have been made possible through £20m secured from the government. Of this, £11.94m has been allocated specifically to the Tropicana via the former Levelling Up Fund administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

An additional £2.7m from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will fund further enhancements, with delivery managed by Arts Council England.

The funding for both projects is ring-fenced and cannot be redirected to other services such as social care, education or highways.

While details of the future Tropicana operator have yet to be revealed, the completion of demolition works signals tangible progress towards bringing new life to the long-awaited redevelopment.

More information about the project is available on our website. 

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