Second phase of physical work starts and car park to close at Birnbeck Pier

North Somerset Council’s second phase of physical work on the Birnbeck Pier project starts this week (w/c Monday 14 July). To enable the work, the car park next to the pier in Weston-super-Mare is planned to temporarily close from Tuesday 29 July.

This work on the landside is being led by the council’s appointed contractor for this phase of the project, Bristol-based Smith and Brenson. It includes:

• restoring landside buildings including the Pier Master’s Cottage
• creating visitor facilities including toilets and bicycle racks
• providing essential services and infrastructure to the site including work underground on a new water supply, a new sewer and sewage pumps, and to install a new fit-for-purpose electricity substation
• removing asbestos and repairing the sea wall
• replacing broken railings and streetlights along Birkett Road.

This work is being funded from an allocation of £4.47m from the £20m awarded to the council by the UK government, through the former Levelling Up Fund.

The pay and display car park, located where Birnbeck Road meets Birkett Road, has 75 car spaces. These spaces are expected to be unavailable until the project is complete. This is currently anticipated to be during 2028.

Image - North Somerset Council

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s cabinet member responsible for the Birnbeck Pier project, said: “I hope that the start of this second phase of physical work will provide reassurance that the council is very much pushing forward with our project to restore Birnbeck Pier and Island.  The first phase of work was completed at the end of last year, achieved within budget and ahead of schedule.

“Working in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England, we continue to work hard to identify solutions to progress with the restoration of the pier structure. 

“I’d like to take the opportunity to give some thanks. I must of course start by acknowledging and thanking the UK government for funding this element of the project. Thanks to council officers for their continuing hard work and determination to restore this site of significant importance to our country’s heritage, which will once again be of significant economic benefit to the town and wider area. I’d also like to thank those within our local community who contribute positively and in so many ways, including the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and the Friends of the Old Pier Society.

“Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while Birnbeck Pier car park is temporarily closed to enable our restoration project to take place. It’s a challenging and physically restricted site, and contractors will need the space to work safely. We’re keen to minimise disruption to everyone, particularly local residents and businesses. There’s an alternative car park nearby and public transport links. Where possible, visitors are asked to use sustainable and active transport options, to reduce pressure on town centre roads and parking.”

Mark Langdon, Director of Smith & Brenson Ltd, said: "As an established local contractor, we’re proud and excited to be leading the restoration of the landside works at Birnbeck Pier on behalf of North Somerset Council. We look forward to bringing this iconic site back to life and restoring it to its former glory, honouring the fond memories it holds for generations of Weston-super-Mare visitors and residents alike.”

Travelling by bus and rail

The Prince Consort Gardens bus stops are located nearby on both sides of the road at the entrance to the car park. These serve bus route 1, a regular service that operates between Weston-super-Mare Railway Station and the Sand Bay Bus Terminus every day of the week. Visit the Travelwest website for information and timetables: www.travelwest.info

Connecting rail options include regular trains from Bristol, Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton, Weston Milton and Worle Parkway, as well as from Taunton, Bridgwater and Highbridge & Burnham stations.

Alternative parking

There is limited on street parking in Birkett Road.  The nearest alternative car park is located on Madeira Road (BS23 2HA), accessed from South Road.  This pay and display car park, which offers 70 car spaces including three disabled bays, is less than five minutes’ walk to Birnbeck through Prince Consort Gardens. Parking here is £1.60 for up to four hours, increasing to £4 for 24 hours. Motorcycles are free of charge.

Signage will be installed to direct visitors to this alternative car park.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are available at Melrose car park on the seafront and at Worle Diamond Batch Railway Station car park.

For updates and information on parking in Weston-super-Mare, and across North Somerset, please visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/parking.

To find out more about the Birnbeck Pier project, visit the information hub near the pier or the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/BirnbeckPierProject.