A series of drone images show the full extent of the £20m restoration of Southport’s Victorian pier. Andrew Brown reports
These sensational drone pictures show the extent of the £20m restoration project taking shape at Southport Pier.
They were captured by Jason Williams, who operates the UK Drone Shots Facebook page, and shared into the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group.
Restoration of the pier is “continuing at pace”, with contractors AE Yates carrying out the work in a scheme led by Sefton Council.
Jason Williams said: “Take a look at a piece of Southport history, currently being rebuilt. Southport Pier has stood on the town’s coastline since 1860.
“For generations it has been one of Southport’s most recognisable landmarks — stretching more than 3,600 feet across the sands and holding the distinction of being Britain’s oldest surviving iron pleasure pier.
“But the pier we all know is currently going through a major transformation.
“Closed since December 2022 following concerns over its condition, the Grade II listed structure is now undergoing a major restoration after £20m of funding was approved earlier this year.
“I visited Southport in October 2026 to capture the work from the air. From this perspective you can really appreciate both the sheer scale of the pier and the amount of work involved in bringing a structure more than 160 years old back to life.
“Sections have been stripped back, decking and infrastructure removed and preparations made for replacement steelwork as the restoration progresses.
“It’s an unusual opportunity to document Southport Pier at a point that hopefully won’t be seen again for a very long time.
“One day the scaffolding, machinery and exposed structure will be gone and visitors will once again be walking along the pier. For now, this is what an important moment in its history looks like from above. Hopefully I’ll be back to film it again when the restoration is complete.”
In its most recent update on Southport Pier, Sefton Council said that restoration works are continuing at pace, with British bought steel replacement works next in line.
Sefton Council’s main contractor AE Yates is making significant progress across the historic structure with dismantling works being the most recent focus of their efforts.
Twenty-seven lighting arches have now been safely disconnected and removed, while the kiosk and halfway-house have also been taken down. A third kiosk is in the process of being dismantled.
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In order to ensure contractor safety access scaffolding has been erected across the landward section of the pier to allow for the timber decking and to be removed. Existing handrails, tramlines and mechanical and electrical services have also been taken away ready for the next stage of the restoration.
Elsewhere on the site an access haul road and two large crane pads have been created in preparation for the installation of new British steel.