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The CPO was first served to the pier’s private owner in 2020, but due to an objection put to the courts by the owner asking for a ‘stay’, the CPO has not yet been through the formal inquiry process required.
After significant delays to the courts hearing the case, the current owner finally withdrew his case last November, allowing the formal CPO process to proceed.
Cllr Mark Canniford, Executive Member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy at North Somerset Council said: “We’ve been working towards this point for three years and we’re grateful that our case to acquire and restore the pier can finally be heard. We have developed proposals to restore the Grade II* pier and many of the associated buildings, allow the RNLI to use the site once again and the public to visit. This will be transformational to the town and its future. We are very grateful to our partners and funders, RNLI, Historic England, Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Levelling Up Fund.”
John Crockford-Hawley, North Somerset Council Councillor and Heritage Champion said: “I’m thrilled we are a huge step closer to renovating Birnbeck Pier and seeing it in use once again. Currently it is on Historic England’s National Building Risk Register. The Pier was designed by Eugenius Birch, the noted Victorian engineer, and is Grade II* listed with five further Grade II structures and buildings located on the island and the landward end of the site. It will be wonderful to see it returned and used once again by the town.”
Three phases of funding for the pier have been announced - emergency funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund of £3.55m to strengthen the pier ‘legs’ and create a temporary walkway onto the island, the first payment of £234,760 from a £4.525m funding pot from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to develop detailed proposals for the restoration and reuse of Birnbeck's buildings and £4.4m from the government's Levelling Up Fund.
North Somerset Council and the RNLI have formally agreed to work together to renovate Birnbeck Pier, bringing vital lifesaving work back onto the island and allowing the public access to the Victorian pier.
The CPO inquiry will take place at 10am at the Grand Atlantic Hotel, Weston-super-Mare. North Somerset Council expect to hear a decision on the CPO outcome in the autumn.
For more information about the Birnbeck Pier project including the Compulsory Purchase Order and the statement of case, please visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject.