North Somerset Council is preparing to vote on September 16 to cancel the much-anticipated Birnbeck Pier restoration project following the withdrawal of a crucial funding partner, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Birnbeck Pier, a Victorian landmark in Weston-super-Mare, has been the centerpiece of the council’s regeneration ambitions. The RNLI was set to contribute £5.5 million to the restoration to reestablish its lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island. However, at the end of June, the charity pulled out, citing concerns over the project’s financial viability and the funding structure.
Mark Canniford, the council cabinet member overseeing the project, expressed deep regret. “Without a new funding commitment in the coming days, the council will have no choice but to close the restoration project for now,” he said. “The £5.5 million funding gap left by the RNLI remains unfilled, preventing us from proceeding.”
READ MORE: ‘Scary’ and ‘dangerous’ Somerset coast road set for pedestrian and cyclist safety upgrades
READ MORE: Meet the Trio Reviving the Strawberry Line
The RNLI was instrumental in acquiring the pier, providing £400,000 to facilitate its purchase in 2023. They planned to transform the pier’s pavilion into a modern lifeboat station, allowing lifeboat launches directly from the island once more. The charity’s departure sparked disappointment across the community; Council leader Mike Bell described the decision as “shocking” and a betrayal to those dedicated to preserving Birnbeck Pier’s future.
While councillors will consider removing the project from the council’s capital programme, some restoration work will continue. Funded by the Levelling Up Fund, efforts will proceed on the landside, including saving the historic pier master’s cottage and adding a new café designed as a viewing point for ongoing pier restoration.
The council has sought alternative funding sources, submitting bids to the National Heritage Lottery Fund—which has already contributed £10 million—and the government’s Mission Growth Fund. To date, no new commitments have been secured. The council has promised to update councillors if any funding offers come through before the September vote.
Canniford emphasized the pier’s unique national importance: a Grade II* Listed structure and the only pier in England connecting to an island. “Our ambition to restore Birnbeck Pier remains strong, but the funding shortfall has stalled immediate progress,” he said.
He highlighted continued collaboration with key heritage organizations, the local MP Dan Aldridge, and potential investors, but acknowledged the challenge of bridging the financial gap. “We will keep pursuing solutions and hope to revive the project in the future,” Canniford added.
Restoring Birnbeck Pier has clear benefits: job creation, skills development, cultural enrichment, and boosting Weston’s economy. Independent business case reports and heritage bodies affirm the project’s value.
The council recognizes the dedication of community groups like the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and the Friends of the Old Pier Society, as well as the passion of partners and contractors who have worked tirelessly to keep the restoration alive. Canniford concluded, “It is that shared commitment that gives me confidence Birnbeck will rise again.”