£20m restoration and reopening of Southport Pier moves forward as Sefton Council appoints main contractor to carry out essential works. Tony McDonough reports
Sefton Council has appointed a main contractor as it moves forward with plans to restore and reopen Southport Pier.
Dating back to 1860, the pier was closed to the public in December 2022 owing to the need for critical structural repairs. For a long period the future of the pier looked bleak with the council saying it did not have the funds to fix it.
However, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited Southport in late September and pledged £20m in Government funding as part of the Plan for Change policy to “drive economic growth by attracting businesses, opportunity and jobs to every part of the country”.
Now the council has “remobilised” AE Yates has been contracted to undertake early contractor design and further survey works. The firm has previously carried out investigation work on the structure.
These latest works, costing £300,000, will be funded by the authority in advance of the anticipated award of Government funding for the full project. It is hoped the pier will reopen to the public in 2027.
This Grade II-listed structure, the second longest in Britain, stretches 3,600 feet and offers views of the town’s Marine Lake, Promenade and beach.
Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson said: “The further appointment of AE Yates to undertake preparatory work builds on their involvement to date in the project, and the council’s investment in these works helps us ensure readiness for start on site once funding is secured.
“They have an exemplary track record of working on large scale refurbishment projects and their detailed exploratory work on the pier’s steel structure was invaluable in setting out the sheer scale of challenge we have faced to restore the pier.
“I have repeatedly said that as soon as we secure the funding, we will be ready to start work. Everything is in place, including vital legal requirements such as listed building consent, and this appointment keeps us moving and ready to start as soon as funding is confirmed.”
Cllr Atkinson added that consultation has also taken place with Historic England, the Southport Pier Trust, and the Pier Society, ensuring the works fully respect the pier’s historic significance.