Southport Pier seeing great progress with lighting columns, buildings and 50% decking removed

An update has been given on the £20 million restoration of Southport Pier, with lots of progress being made over the summer months. Sefton Council says that works which have been carried out so far include the removal of the old lighting columns, buildings and over 50% of the old timber decking All scaffolding has been erected with other site assembly to allow the rebuild. Love Southport Pier? Join the Friends Of Southport Pier Facebook page The first batch of new steel is currently being fabricated and galvanised with the first bay to arrive on site in the next month. A comprehensive comms plan is due to be implemented in September to update local people and businesses on the latest news. Work has been taking place to restore Southport Pier. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport The work is being led by AE Yates which has been commissioned by Sefton Council to carry out the project and reopen the landmark attraction, which has been closed since December 2022. The full restoration of the pier is expected to take between 14 to 16 months to complete, with hopes that visitors will be able to once again walk along it next year. Earlier this year, The Growth Mission Fund panel gave its full approval to the business case submitted by Sefton Council for the full repair of the cherished local landmark. Opened in August 1860, Southport Pier is the oldest iron pier in the country. Its length of 1,108 m (3,635 ft) makes it the second-longest in Great Britain, after Southend Pier. Southport Pier attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Southport every year. Work has been taking place to restore Southport Pier. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport The Southport Pier restoration is among several positive developments happening in Southport at the moment including the transformation of: the former BHS department store on Chapel Street; the former Leo's Bar on Nevill Street; the former Southport Visiter offices on Tulketh Street; the new Wetherspoon Hotel on Lord Street; and The Garrick on Lord Street. The new Footy Nation attraction opened at Ocean Plaza Leisure earlier this year. Southport Pier will undergo a comprehensive restoration programme that goes far beyond the original decking replacement plans approved three years ago. A detailed business case was submitted to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), setting out the full scope of repairs, long-term maintenance needs and sustainability measures required to secure the pier for future generations. Restoration 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 has been secured. For more information on Southport Pier, visit Southport Pier Archives | Stand Up For Southport Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected]