North Somerset Council is preparing to vote on canceling the ambitious restoration of Birnbeck Pier, a beloved Victorian landmark in Weston-super-Mare, following the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) recent withdrawal from the project.
The RNLI had committed £5.5 million towards restoring the pier, with plans to reestablish its lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island. This investment was central to the council’s vision to revive the pier and boost local regeneration efforts. However, the RNLI pulled out at the end of June, citing concerns about the project’s viability, funding structure, and long-term maintenance.
Without the RNLI’s crucial financial backing, North Somerset Council faces a significant funding gap and has declared it cannot move forward unless new major funding sources emerge imminently. The council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Mark Canniford, expressed deep disappointment ahead of the September 16 council meeting where the project’s future will be decided.
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“Unless new funds are secured soon, we will have to effectively close the restoration project with genuine regret,” Canniford said. “The £5.5 million left uncovered by the RNLI withdrawal means the project cannot progress.”
The RNLI’s involvement had been pivotal, including a £400,000 contribution for the council’s purchase of the pier in 2023. The lifeboat charity intended to transform the dilapidated pavilion on Birnbeck Island into a modern lifeboat station, bringing rescue operations back to the location after a long absence.
The charity’s withdrawal was condemned by council leader Mike Bell as “a shocking decision that breaks faith with residents, volunteers, and everyone dedicated to saving Birnbeck Pier.”
Despite the setback, some restoration efforts will continue. The landside works—underwritten by the Levelling Up Fund—include preserving the historic pier master’s cottage and developing a new café extension designed to offer visitors a vantage point on ongoing restoration activity.
The council has submitted additional funding bids to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has already contributed £10 million, as well as to the government’s Mission Growth Fund. However, no new funding commitments have been secured to date. The council pledged to update councillors should an offer of funding arise before the crucial September vote.
Canniford emphasized the pier’s unique status as a Grade II* listed structure and the only UK pier connecting to an island. “Our ambition to restore Birnbeck Pier remains strong, but this funding gap has unfortunately stalled our immediate progress,” he noted. Efforts continue in partnership with national heritage organizations, government bodies, and local representatives, including MP Dan Aldridge.
He also highlighted the restoration’s broader benefits: job creation, enhanced skills, economic growth, and reinforcing community pride in a treasured historic site. Independent business case reports support the project’s significance and potential impact.
Canniford expressed gratitude to the many individuals and groups who have devoted passion and effort to the project over the years, including local campaigners like the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and Friends of the Old Pier Society. “Their commitment fuels hope that, despite the current pause, Birnbeck Pier will one day rise again,” he said.