Southport Pier restoration granted Listed Building consent

This approval marks a significant milestone in the efforts to restore Southport Pier – one of the town’s most beloved landmarks and a key tourist attraction.

Extensive plans for how work would take place were submitted by Sefton Tourism last year, having been drawn up working alongside established Southport firm RAL Architects.

They have now been officially approved by the local authority’s Planning department, with Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie saying in his report: “The pier is a focal point of the town, part of its identity and a significant tourist attraction”.

Having Listed Building Consent in place will now support Sefton in its ambitions to seek sufficient public funding for repairs either through the Government, or national bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Southport Pier. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Last Friday (31st January 2025) over 400 members of the public, local businesses and local politicians packed in Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant for an Open Meeting about Southport Pier, which showed the huge public support for the historic attraction to reopen.

Earlier this year, a poll of over 1,700 people on the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group showed 97% of respondents wanting Southport Pier to be restored.

In a report outlining the reasons for granting approval, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “Many changes have been undertaken with the pier over time with the only original physical fabric left, being the cast iron columns and its aesthetic and architectural reproduction of elements such as the lattice trusses which has that have been incorporated into each revised iteration. The main visual changes would be the change from lattice work to thicker steel sections and beams with hexagonal cut outs.

“In terms of the public benefits, these comprise the public use and long-term maintenance of a Grade II Listed structure, which is of significant historic value to Southport, having been in situ for over 150 years.

“The pier is a focal point of the town, part of its identity and a significant tourist attraction.

“The benefits of the works are that they will enable the pier to be brought back into use, the associated regeneration and economic benefits that it brings to Southport and its businesses who heavily rely on tourism.”

The replacement and repair works at Southport Pier would involve the decking and supporting steelwork.

It would also include the refurbishment and reinstatement of handrails and seating pavilions.

Southport Pier is a Grade II Listed Building.

It is one of Britain’s longest standing pleasure piers and is more than 3,600ft in length, making it the second longest in the UK.

The Pier opened in 1860, and celebrates its 165th birthday this year.

Its current appearance has evolved as the result of various works and repairs over its extensive life.

Following extreme weather, the Pier was closed for safety reasons in December 2022 owing to the need for structural repairs.

The proposed development consists of extensive replacement and repair works to the decked level of Southport Pier and its supporting steel super-structure, which sits on top of the main pier columns, which would remain in place).

The repair and replacement works are being proposed for the entire length of Southport Pier.

The proposed works would be carried out in sectional phases to minimise disruption and would concentrate on the construction working area at any one time, to limit any potential impacts from construction noise and activity.

Works would be started at the eastern end of Southport Pier first, at its entrance on the Promenade, working westwardly, working one section at a time.

In November last year, a spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Following an intensive survey and design period, we applied for Listed Building Consent for the future refurbishment works needed to re-open Southport Pier.

“By making this submission it enables Sefton Council and the Southport Pier team to have all necessary approvals in place for when funding is identified, allowing for works to commence quickly and efficiently.”