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Early last year we successfully bid for £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to invest in high-profile sites across the town centre and seafront, to transform the cultural, leisure and retail experience for residents, business and visitors.
Work is moving forward at three of these sites:
Marine Lake
The next phase of improvement work at Weston-super-Mare’s Marine Lake is now taking place.
The tidal lake is closed temporarily for dredging work to remove built-up silt, carried out by specialist contractor Teignmouth Maritime Services.
It will reopen to the public once work is complete, expected to be before the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Following the dredging work, Levelling Up funding will then be used to improve walkways, steps and ramps, and other enhancements such as upgrading the public toilets.
This work is due to be completed by spring next year.
Tropicana
Architects have been appointed for the revamp of Weston-super-Mare’s iconic Tropicana.
The seaside building is set to receive £8.67m investment to repair and upgrade facilities, increase capacity and elevate its status as a nationally significant multi-use entertainment space.
These plans have moved closer now we’ve appointed architecture practice RCKa, and are now seeking a commercial operator.
We tested the appetite for involvement in the site last year and 14 expressions of interest were made from local, regional and national operators.
It’s planned that the Tropicana will remain open in its current form until early September then close temporarily to allow construction and refurbishment work to take place.
Recently completed building surveys highlighted priority areas including roofing, heating, lighting, ventilation systems, wall and flooring repairs, drainage, and upgrading toilet facilities.
Work is currently scheduled to finish by August 2025 and a new operator could be appointed to then start fit out and reopen the Tropicana shortly afterwards.
RCKa will lead an ambitious public engagement programme, working with local artists and others to map a way forward to reviving the Tropicana as a commercially viable and highly flexible venue to accommodate a wider range of entertainment activities.
Birnbeck Pier
We’ll soon be going to tender for specialist construction contracts valued at more than £7m for the restoration of much-loved Birnbeck Pier.
We purchased Birnbeck Pier and island in July last year, thanks to £400,000 in funding from the RNLI and we’re working jointly on the restoration.
The next steps include work to restore and renovate the pavilion and other structures on the island, restoration of the landside buildings and essential public safety work.
The current anticipated timeline for restoration work is:
- Autumn/winter 2024 to summer/autumn 2025 - repair and renovation work to the landside building
- Spring/summer 2025 to spring/summer 2026 - pier deck construction and repair work to strengthen the pier
- Summer 2025 to summer/autumn 2026 - building work to create a new RNLI lifeboat station and visitor centre
- Spring/summer 2026 to autumn/winter 2026 - more work to the enhance the pier deck, repair the island sea wall, stabilise the pavilion and install interpretation boards and visitor information
This project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Levelling Up Fund, National Heritage Memorial Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.