BIRNBECK Pier in Weston-super-Mare has been awarded a £10m lifeline by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring it a step closer to reopening to the public.

The announcement was made today, Monday, October 28, 160 years to the day since the pier’s foundation stone was laid on October 28, 1864.

The project, led by North Somerset Council in partnership with the RNLI, is being awarded £10m of National Lottery funding to help restore the Grade II* Listed pier structure, which is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, to make it safe and usable once again.

This will enable further restoration work for the Listed buildings on the pier and island and the RNLI’s development of a new lifeboat station on the island to take place.

It is a significant milestone in North Somerset Council’s ambitions to reopen the pier, one of only six Grade II* Listed piers in England and the only pier in the UK to connect the mainland to an island, as a unique visitor destination to support the wider regeneration of Weston.

It also comes as the Heritage Fund celebrates the 30th anniversary of the National Lottery next month and as the RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary year.

Designed by Eugenius Birch and opened in 1867, Birnbeck Pier stands as a remarkable example of Victorian engineering.

It was a popular destination for day-trippers from ports along the Bristol Channel, including from south Wales.

The pier even had a tramway system to transport luggage. During the Second World War, the pier played a significant role and was commissioned by the Admiralty for weapon trials, including the famous Sir Barnes Wallis ‘bouncing bomb’.

Post-war, the pier's popularity waned leading to a decline in visitors and steamer services, with the last steamer excursion taking place in 1979.

The lack of maintenance during private ownership caused the pier to become unsafe and in 1994 it was closed to the public.

RNLI volunteers first had a presence on the Island in 1882, building a lifeboat station from which to operate on the island in 1888 until they were forced to leave in 2014 after it was deemed too dangerous.

Since then, the RNLI in Weston has operated from a temporary base on the mainland.

Historic England placed the pier on its original Heritage at Risk Register in 1998 due to concerns about its deterioration as well as re-opening the much-loved landmark to the public, the project also intends to enable the RNLI to return to the island, which remains the safest and most effective location to launch lifeboats in Weston.

Subject to planning consent, the RNLI aim to build a new modern lifeboat station and create a visitable RNLI space on Birnbeck Island.

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This is great news for Weston-super-Mare and beyond.

Thanks to National Lottery players, Birnbeck Pier is set to be brought back from the brink of loss, ensuring its 160-year historic legacy is preserved for generations to come.

“We are proud to be part of this transformative project, which promises to enhance and regenerate the cultural and economic landscape of the area, provide local employment opportunities and be a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come.

“National Lottery funding ensures that this heritage will be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”

Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, said: “£10m is a significant amount of money - we’re so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their ongoing support of our project to restore Birnbeck Pier.

“I must also acknowledge and thank National Lottery players as this simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.

“This money will go towards the restoration of the pier structure itself, for which there is a planning application lodged at the moment.

“This funding award demonstrates the continued recognition by key national organisations – including our multiple funding partners – in our renovation plans for Birnbeck, to not only restore public access to this Victorian treasure but to get the RNLI back on the island where they belong.”

30 years of The National Lottery Heritage Fund 2024 marks 30 years of The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Over this period, the Heritage Fund has invested in preserving the country’s heritage - making better places for communities to live, work and visit, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.

The Heritage Fund has so far awarded £8.6billion to more than 47,000 projects across the UK.

Funding not only celebrates and preserves history, architecture, landscape and culture, but also plays a vital role in connecting communities, bringing joy and supporting economic regeneration.

Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has invested in numerous historic piers across the UK, preserving heritage and regenerating seaside destinations for all to enjoy.

In 1995, one of Heritage Fund’s earliest grants went to Clevedon Pier, near to Weston in North Somerset who received £1.2m for a vital restoration project.

It was initially awarded £1.2m towards its restoration and then a further £720k was provided in 2012 to help transform visitor facilities and create a sustainable future.

Now, nearly 30 years later, Clevedon Pier is thriving, much-loved by the community and has won Pier of the Year three times – in 1999, 2013 and most recently in 2021.

Since 1994, the Heritage Fund has invested over £14m for 43 projects in Weston, including supporting the town’s Heritage Action Zone cultural programme and Weston-super-Mare Town Council’s redevelopment of Weston Museum.

The whole project, to restore Birnbeck Pier and Island, has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, RNLI, UK government, National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England. Local people have been hugely important to the campaign to save the pier.

This includes organisations such as the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and Friends of the Old Pier.