NORTH Somerset Council now owns Birnbeck Pier.

Yesterday (Thursday, July 13), Birnbeck Holdings Ltd agreed to sell the historic pier for £400K, avoiding the need for a legal Compulsory Purchase Order Public Inquiry which was scheduled to take place in August.

The purchase, which was funded by the RNLI, now means that the council can work on the restoration of Birnbeck Pier, which will start with tidying up the car park area, fencing and putting up safety signage.

Architects Haverstock Associates and engineers will work with both the council and the RNLI to develop designs for the repair works to the pier and associated buildings, which will be followed by planning and marine consent applications.

Cllr Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, said: "Thanks to our partners' unwavering support along with millions in funding, we will now be working as quickly as possible to get on site, prevent any further collapse and renovate the pier and its buildings for future generations to enjoy."

The council also agreed to leasing an area for parking to Birnbeck Holdings Ltd, in addition to providing permits in the Madeira car park should a development on the former Royal Pier Hotel site be completed before July 2033. 

Cllr Bell added: “We agreed to these terms in the interest of Birnbeck Pier which now means the Compulsory Purchase Order Public Inquiry will not take place.

"Although our case was very strong, there was always a risk that Birnbeck Holdings Ltd could have challenged the decision in the High Court. Time which the pier and the other buildings don’t have.” 

An area of the island will be leased to the RNLI to build a new lifeboat station.

Duncan Macpherson, RNLI Principal Estates manager, said: “After many years of investigation of over 20 alternative sites in and around Weston, Birnbeck Island offers the charity the safest and most effective place for our volunteer crew to launch and recover their lifeboats."

Duncan Wilson CBE, chief executive of Historic England, said: “We applaud the council, the RNLI and many other partners for their hard work in securing its future."

Cllr John Crockford-Hawley, North Somerset councillor and heritage champion, concluded: “Today is a key date in Weston-super-Mare’s history – a day when we can finally start work on renovating Birnbeck Pier so residents and visitors alike will be able to enjoy it once again."