WORKERS are set to be on site at the Birnbeck Pier from tomorrow (February 2) as work to restore the landmark continues – with a car park closing to the public.
North Somerset Council contractor Mackley will start preparations for work on the pier itself, with cabins being installed in the coming days, along with a 100-tonne Long Reach excavator set to arrive by mid-February.
A 100-tonne crane will then arrive on site, working on the foreshore and first Pier.
Later this year, a long-reach excavator with a cherry picker and a second larger crane (160 tonnes) will arrive by barge from Wales, where the pier itself will start to be repaired.
The initial works include installing temporary worker access to the shoreline and completing masonry repairs either side of the pier.
Loose material, such as timber decking, will be removed and the innermost bays rebuilt, while scaffolding around the pier’s trestle legs will also start to be installed.
In Mid-May, a bigger, 650-tonne mobile crane is expected to arrive on site for the first of the deck spans to be installed.
As a result, the Birnbeck Pier car park, in Birnbeck Road, will be closed from Monday (February 2).
In recent months, work by Smith and Brenson has started on the landside of the pier including repairing and renovating landside buildings, setting up provision of essential services and infrastructure to support the whole site while restoration is underway and repairs completed to the island sea wall.
The 1888 boat house, the clock tower pavilion and landside cliff face were also all stabilised in works undertaken in 2024.
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Cllr Mark Canniford, Cabinet member responsible for the Birnbeck Project, said: “This is the next exciting step in Birnbeck Pier’s restoration.
“Our contractor Mackley is about to start restoring the pier itself and will be setting up onsite on the promenade next to the Pier and in Birnbeck Pier car park, which will be closed to the public.
“The pier works are expected to be completed by summer 2027. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while restoration works are underway.”
Andy Bosman, project manager at Mackley, added: “We’re pleased to be working on the restoration of Birnbeck Pier, a nationally significant historic structure.
“The early stages of the project will focus on site set-up and preparatory activities, with works carefully planned around weather, tides and the constraints of the marine environment. Birnbeck Pier is a complex heritage asset, and we’ll be taking a phased and considered approach as the project progresses, working closely with North Somerset Council to help secure the long-term future of this iconic landmark.”
This phase of the Birnbeck Pier restoration project has been made possible thanks to £15,544,799 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the UK government and Historic England.
READ MORE: North Somerset news from your Leveller
Yippee ,I can’t believe it s going ahead at last ! I ve been following it s very sad poor condition for many many decades ,why has it been left to rot so very long? I ll bee one of the first to explore this lovely pier!
Is this project, really going to take three years to complete. That seems a very long time. Bring in Chinese. It would be done in 8 – 10 months. I’ve visited Birnbeck Pier and it’s a great iconic piece of engeering marvel 👌.
THIS IS SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS. WE WERE ON THE PIER WHEN BOBBY FROM MALTA WAS PLAYING A GRAND PIANO IN THE MAIN HALL. I WONDER IF THEY WILL RESTORE THR LANDING STAGE WHERE CAMPBELLS STEAMERS USED TO DOCK? THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THE BALMORAL COULD LAND AND PICKUP PASSENGERS. HOW ABOUT THE LIFEBOAT STATION?
Can’t wait, birnbeck pier was so special to my family my parents and grandparents, who are a Weston family, both Dad and my uncle played rugby for Weston and lived in Seville Crescent. And went to school in Weston.