£5.54 million Lottery lifeline secures future of Birnbeck Pier restoration

North Somerset Council’s bid for an additional £5.54 million in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration of Birnbeck Pier has been successful, it was announced at full council today (Tuesday 16 September). 

Councillors, who were made aware of this news immediately ahead of the meeting, voted in favour of awarding the contract to restore the structure of the Grade II* Listed pier in Weston-super-Mare.

The contract award was previously due to be determined at the July full council meeting but this was not possible due to the RNLI withdrawing from the project days before.

Councillors were set to consider the future of the restoration of the Birnbeck Pier structure and the major funding gap that placed that element of the project at jeopardy. However, the decision required from them changed following news of The Heritage Fund’s award.

Image: Birnbeck Pier

The contract has been awarded to Mackley, a specialist civil engineering contractor with extensive experience and expertise of working in a marine environment and with heritage structures. This follows a competitive open tender process that took place between 30 January and 25 April 2025 that resulted in four bids.

The Grade II* Listed structure, the only pier in the country to link to an island, consists of 15 sets of cast iron trestles, topped with a wooden deck with bench seating and lighting.

This phase of the project has been made possible thanks to £15,544,799 in total from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made up of this most recent grant of £5,544,799 in full added to the £10m previously awarded in October 2024), in addition to funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the UK government and Historic England. This brings the total of external funding secured for the restoration of the Birnbeck Pier structure to over £20m, reflecting the national significance of the project and the confidence funders have in its future.

North Somerset Council also committed capital funding to cover risk contingency, ensuring the project is delivered responsibly and sustainably.

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “We had a setback earlier in the summer, but we promised to work right up until the eleventh hour to try to find a solution, and I am delighted our efforts have paid off. We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Put simply, this lifeline has saved the day. Without it, the future of Birnbeck Pier would have been in real danger. Thanks to National Lottery players, whose support makes this possible, we can now press on with plans to restore this extraordinary part of our coastal heritage for generations to come.”

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council's cabinet member responsible for the Birnbeck Pier project, added: “Just a week ago we faced the prospect of closing the pier restoration project down. Today, it’s full steam ahead. This new funding proves national confidence in our plans. It safeguards a Victorian treasure, unlocks over £20m of investment and means we can crack on with restoring public access to the pier and island. Together with the approved work for the landside buildings, which is now underway, we have made great strides forward.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Birnbeck Pier is a unique part of our coastal heritage that has been at risk of loss for over 25 years. The additional grant reflects our commitment to saving heritage at risk and investing in the communities it belongs to. The restoration of the pier is a transformational project, enhancing and regenerating the cultural and economic landscape of Weston-super-Mare and providing enjoyment for generations to come.

"Birnbeck Pier holds a special place in people’s hearts and memories. The energy and commitment of local people and organisations working hard to secure its future and place the pier back at the forefront of Weston-super-Mare has been integral to getting to where we are today. We know that any major project and investment of this scale will have risks, but we are committed to working collaboratively with North Somerset Council, Historic England and UK Government to make this project happen. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future and this project will do that.”

Work on the pier structure is due to start by the end of 2025 and take just over a year, with work complete by the end of 2026.

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