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The success last month means we can continue with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to acquire the Grade II* listed Victorian structure.
The CPO is expected to complete next year.
This is a significant step towards the restoration of the pier, allowing the RNLI to move forward with their plans and restoring public access to this treasured site in Weston-super-Mare.
Two funding boosts were also announced recently:
- £3.55m awarded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, as part of the national £20m Cultural Assets Fund (CAF). This will enable emergency works to be undertaken, to stabilise and restore the legs and install a walkway
- £234,761 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will carry out essential conservation to the pier once emergency works are complete.
Since opening in 1867, Birnbeck Pier, designed by noted Victorian engineer Eugenius Birch, has been an integral part of Western-super-Mare.
It has played many different roles over the years – a traditional pleasure pier, a stage for one of the greatest bands of all time, The Beatles, and where the RNLI called home.
However, the pier closed to the public in 1994 and was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
In 2014 the RNLI were forced to leave their station on the island because the pier had become too dangerous.
For many years, partners have worked together to try to save the pier and will continue to do so as part of this challenging and exciting project.