Final green light for restoration and reopening of Southport’s Victorian Grade II-listed pier as Government approves £20m for the project. Tony McDonough reports
Sefton Council can now push on with the £20m project to restore and reopen Southport Pier after the Government confirmed the funding.
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 the town in late September 2025 and pledged £20m for Southport Pier in Government funding as part of the Plan for Change policy.
In early February Sefton Council appointed AE Yates to undertake early contractor design and further survey works costing £300,000. The firm has previously carried out investigation work on the structure.
Confirmed this week by the Growth Mission Fund panel, the decision on funding means major works to restore the iconic Grade II-listed structure can now get under way.
A detailed business case was submitted to the Department for Business and Trade, setting out the full scope of repairs, long-term maintenance needs and sustainability measures required to secure the pier for future generations. Work will include:
- Full replacement of decking boards and timber joists.
- Extensive steelwork repairs and replacements due to corrosion.
- Installation of new gates and CCTV.
- Introduction of a robust long-term maintenance regime.
Listed building consent is already in place, and the two‑stage design and build procurement process has been completed, allowing works to begin swiftly.
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Cllr Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council, said: “Today’s approval from the Growth Mission Fund panel is fantastic news for Southport, our residents and the millions of visitors who love our pier.
“We have worked tirelessly to make the strongest possible case for this investment, and I am delighted that Government recognises both the importance of Southport Pier and the urgency of its restoration.”