The foundation stone of this Birch-designed pier was laid in 1864. It opened on 5th June 1867 and consisted of a 1040 foot cantilever construction to Birnbeck Island and a short jetty extending westwards from the island.

1872 improvements included the 250 foot wooden north jetty. A lifeboat station was added in 1881 (the boathouse was built in 1889), and a pavilion in 1884. A tramway transported baggage from the steamers.

A fire damaged the main buildings on Boxing Day 1897, but the switchback escaped. The new pavilion and low water jetty opened in 1898. In 1902, a new lifeboat station was built. In 1903, the pier was closed after a gale damaged both jetties. The north jetty was rebuilt in steel to 300 foot and re-opened in 1904 but the low-water jetty remained closed until 1910 and lasted until 1932.

The opening of the Grand Pier’s funfair caused the abandonment of Birnbeck Island amusements in 1933. The Admiralty took over the pier from 1941 to 1946 when it became known as ‘HMS Birnbeck’. P&A Campbell ran the pier from 1962-1972, selling it to John Critchley a year after regular passenger steamer services ceased to call.

In 1989, ownership passed to Phil Stubbs who planned to restore the pier. But, by 1992, the pier was closed (other than for anglers) with financial problems having caused the abandonment of redevelopment plans.

The Council and English Heritage planned a survey in 1996 as to possible future uses for the pier. The pier was put up for auction in Bristol in May 1998 at a reported asking price of £50,000

In 1999, the lifeboat station installed a walkway across the pier to allow them safe access to the island, at a cost of £20,000.

In 2006 the pier was sold to new owners, Urban Splash, and in August 2007 they launched a competition for ideas for the regeneration of the pier and island. In March 2008, Levitate Architecture and Design Studio Ltd were announced as the winners of the design competition. The winning design included a dozen luxury apartments and a 50-room hotel.

On 14th August 2009, the North Somerset Times reported that Birnbeck Pier was being sold to a mystery bidder. Urban Splash was reported as having accepted an offer from another party and was entering into legal issues. However, despite early encouraging signs, Urban Splash later said it was not in a position to redevelop the pier due to the recession.

The pier remained closed to the public as it had been since 1994 and continued to deterirate. It was included on English Heritage’s “buildings at risk” register and in January 2011, Mike Davies from the National Piers Society voiced the Society’s concerns that nothing was happening and that the re-opening of Weston’s Grand Pier seemed to have caused Birnbeck to have been forgotten.

Then in September 2011, it was announced that the pier had been sold for an undisclosed sum to businessmen Wahid Samady and Michael Ross. Mr Samady said that they were looking to retain and enhance the facility for the RNLI, restore the pier and enable public access to the land, so everyone could enjoy this scenic and unique destination. In February 2012, the detailed plans for the redevelopment of the pier were still being kept secret.

However, in August 2012, it was reported that the sale had never actually been completed and ownership still resided with Urban Splash. The pier’s future remains unclear.

In December 2012, a proposal was made by local NPS committee member, Mike Davies, that a bid be made to the Lottery Fund for help to revitalise the pier. However, it was reported that for such grants to be successful the pier and island would have to be in public ownership, via something like a trust or charity. At the time, the pier was still privately owned. Then in April 2013 the pier was visited by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey who met with John Penrose MP, English Heritage and CNM Estates to discuss its future. It was still unclear whether CNM Estates had actually bought the pier from Urban Splash and the sad saga continued.

September 2013 – Public sector cash is the key to saving pier say council
In September 2013, local businessman Wahid Samady said that £10million would be needed to save the pier. Birnbeck Pier was privately owned, apparently still by Urban Splash, and was therefore not eligible for English Heritage or National Lottery grants. However, given the scale of the amount required it seemed that some form of public funding would be essential.

October 2013 – Former student’s video of Birnbeck’s history
In October 2013, Corry Raymond, aged 19 and a former Weston College student, directed a video of the history of Birnbeck Pier to get people talking about the structure again. The video contained aerial footage of the pier filmed by Paul Carr, and narration from local historian John Crockford-Hawley.

Nov 2013 – Developer said to owe Council for hotel demolition
A media report in November 2013 stated that Wahid Samady the businessman proposing to rebuild Birnbeck Pier, had yet to pay North Somerset Council more than £100,000 for its work in demolishing the Royal Pier Hotel after it was gutted by fire three years ago.
A statutory demand for £102,939.64 plus interest had been issued.

December 2013 – RNLI leaving Birnbeck is ‘final nail in the coffin’
In December 2013, the RNLI confirmed that they had decided that is was no longer safe to operate from the pier and were therefore moving to Knightstone Island. Mike Davies, of the National PiersCBRE put the land up for sale last week, but its brochure suggests the scale of any development may have to be smaller than CNM’s original design.

This is because CNM’s planning permission, subject to conditions, in 2011 for 63 apartments was approved for a building which was partly based on a strip of land owned by North Somerset Council. Society, said “I feel this exit will negate any attempt to save the old pier and we will lose a wonderful piece of seaside architecture. “This is going to be the final nail in the coffin.”

October 2014 – Business plans for Birnbeck Pier to be reviewed
October 2014 brought news that CNM Estates, the company headed by Wahid Samady, had commissioned a review of plans for the regeneration of the pier and neighboring Royal Hotel by Colliers International. Several weeks earlier, Weston MP John Penrose had asked Mr Samady to step down and allow other developers to provide a solution.

January 2015 – Engineers to undertake another inspection of pier and owner is open to suggestions regarding the pier’s future
And in January 2015, Colliers said an inspection of the pier would take place in the month as a follow-up to the initial engineering survey carried out the previous Novemhttps://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/7-amazingly-retro-postcards-birnbeck-927949ber.

January 2015 – Group keen to buy Birnbeck
Then also in January, a new group of campaigners, the Let’s Save Birnbeck Pier group, announced proposals to try and acquire Birnbeck Pier for public use. They claimed to have the support of the Friends Of The Old Pier Society (FOPS), North Somerset Council, National Piers Society, MP John Penrose and businessman Richard Nightingale, among others.

February 2015 – John Cleese and Timothy West back Birnbeck Pier campaign
The following month, the new group’s plans were given a boost when Comedian John Cleese and actor Timothy West both offered their support for the campaign to save the pier. Let’s Save Birnbeck Pier was also reported as having plans to join with the Friends of the Old Pier Society to form a charitable trust enabling it to apply for grants.

April 2015 – ‘Copper Mile’ created to help save the pier
In April 2015, Friends Of The Old Pier Society created a novel fund raising scheme in which 1p and 2p coins would be lined up to stretch from the Grand Pier to Birnbeck Pier.

August 2015 – Birnbeck Regeneration Trust plans revealed
In August 2015, the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust announced proposals to lease the pier from owner CNM Estates and then to apply for £17million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Their plans included the building of a hotel, a restaurant, rides and a museum.

September 2015 – Birnbeck Pier named as one of the nation’s top 10 buildings at risk
Birnbeck Pier was among the year’s top 10 most endangered buildings in the Victorian Society’s annual list of the most at-risk Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales, published in September 2015.

December 2015 – NPS Patron Timothy West campaigns to save Birnbeck Pier
In December 2015, actor and patron of the National Piers Society, Timothy West, visited Birnbeck Pier to add his support to those fighting to save it. He said it would be “a significant loss” if it collapsed.

January 2016 – £40,000 fund-raising drive for structural survey at Birnbeck Pier
January 2016 saw the Birnbeck Pier Regeneration Trust launch a drive to raise £40,000 to carry out surveys into the condition of the pier and explore how the crumbling structure could be brought back into use. The initial surveys were funded by the pier’s owners CNM Estates which was supporting the trust to move the project forward.

February 2016 – Housing only hope for Birnbeck Pier site?
In February 2016, the efforts of the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust to raise funds to restore the pier and island as a tourist attraction were dismissed by CNM chairman, Wahid Samady, who said that the group’s fundraising would not be enough to save the pier, and his latest housing bid was the only hope for the pier’s survival.

February 2016 – Birnbeck Regeneration Trust urge shoppers to back bid for £12,000 grant
However, also in February 2016, the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust urged the public to back their application for £12,000 in funding from the Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme, which uses the supermarket’s 5p carrier bag charge to support community improvemnt projects.

March 2016 – £12k grant bid successful to help restore Birnbeck
And the following month, it was announced that the Trust had been successful in their bid to the Tesco scheme. The trust’s project director Richie Griffin said the money would be used to fence the coast path to the north of the pier, following works to clear the path which had been carried out at the end of the previous year.

April 2016 – Birnbeck Pier North jetty earmarked for demolition
It was reported in April 2016 that the owners of Birnbeck Pier,CNM Estates, had appointed consultants to discuss with Historic England and North Somerset Council how the structure’s north jetty, which had been in a state of partial collapse following the previous year’s storms, could be demolished.

May 2016 – Bomb squad called to Weston Birnbeck Pier!
Bomb disposal teams were called to Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier yesterday after archaeologists found what is believed to be a historic unexploded detonator at the site.

July 2016 – Planning permission sought to demolish Birnbeck Pier’s North Jetty
In July 2016, the owner of Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier, CNM Estates, applied for planning permission to pull down the pier’s North Jetty and five trestle piers attached to it. CNM said: “The north jetty poses an immediate safety risk to the public which must be resolved and any proposal to retain and repair or restore the structure would involve considerable expense, for which there is no funding available.” However, it announced that it planned to maintain the landing stage at the end of the walkway to use again once the entire pier complex is restored.

July 2016 – Pokémon Go players risk lives walking on Birnbeck Pier
Later in the month it emerged that a number of youths had to be rescued from the pier after becoming cut off – while playing Pokemon Go – Doh!

September 2016 – Birnbeck Pier north jetty to be demolished
In September 2016, it was announced that North Somerset Council planners had granted listed building consent for the deck and legs of the pier’s North Jettyto be removed, part of which had collapsed during a storm the previous December.

September 2016 – Live webcam opens on Birnbeck Pier
Also in September, the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, the community group trying to save Birnbeck Pier, announced the opening of a live webcam service for the pier. The group published their grateful their thanks to Mr Les Woodland of www.camsecure.co.uk for providing and hosting the service.

September 2016 – Council vows to protect Birnbeck Pier
Later in the month, Councillors criticised CNM chairman Wahid Samady for allowing Birnbeck to fall into such a state of disrepair and stressed Mr Samady would never be granted permission to demolish the main pier itself.

October 2016 – Food to be sold at Birnbeck Pier
In October it was announced that hot food could soon be sold next to Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier, after North Somerset Council agreed to lease one of the structure’s historic mainland buildings to the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust. A Trust spokesman said: “The Trust would like to reopen this building as a high-class food outlet, which will sell locally-sourced sausages and burgers in rolls and baps, all to be enhanced with the finest of condiments. All profits will thereafter go directly towards helping the Trust deliver its main aim of saving Birnbeck Pier.”

November 2016 – Birnbeck Pier trust bid for £25k in Aviva Community Fund awards
In November 2016, the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, called on the public to help them in their bid to secure tens of thousands of pounds in funding from from the Aviva Community Fund to support them in their struggle to save Birnbeck Pier. The funds would be used to build a temporary education and fundraising centre on the mainland overlooking the pier.

November 2016 – Haunting images of derelict Birnbeck Pier
Also in November 2016, the BBC News website released a collection of haunting pictures of the derelict Birnbeck Pier.

November 2016 – Festival set to mark 150 years of Birnbeck Pier
Later in the month, the Birnbeck Regeneratiopn Trust announced plans for a two-day festival in June 2017 to celebrate Birnbeck Pier’s 150th anniversary.

December 2016 – Birnbeck Pier misses out on Historic England grant
In December 2016, it was announced that Weston had been earmarked to become a ‘Heritge Action Zone (HAZ)’ in which North Somerset Council would receive a £500,000 grant from Historic England to restore historic buildings, organise community events and celebrate the town’s rich heritage. Unfortunately, the council confirmed that Birnbeck Pier would not be included.

January 2017 – Birnbeck Pier jetty demolition approaches
Early January 2017 saw the arrival of contractors close to the Birnbeck Pier, building an access road in readiness for the North Jetty to be demolished.

January 2017 – Birnbeck Pier jetty demolition work halted
But later in January, the demolition work was halted as it emerged that the building of an access road to support the work had not been given planning permission. There appeared to be some doubt about the level of communication between the pier owner, CNM Estates, and North Somerset Council.

April 2017 – Moving pictures of Birnbeck Pier
In April 2017, the Bristol Live website published a series of 33 pictures of the derelict Birnbeck Pier by Press Association photographer Ben Birchall. The pictures graphically revealed tCBRE put the land up for sale last week, but its brochure suggests the scale of any development may have to be smaller than CNM’s original design.

This is because CNM’s planning permission, subject to conditions, in 2011 for 63 apartments was approved for a building which was partly based on a strip of land owned by North Somerset Council.he sad state of the various aspects of the pier, which was still no closer to a restoration project.

June 2017 – Weston Birnbeck Pier celebrates its 150th Anniversary
The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust announced a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Birnbeck Pier in June 2017. The event programmed for a full weekend would both raise money for the pier’s restoration fund restoration and recognise its importance to the town. The event was programmed to include live music, stalls, and games, a World War One re-enactment, Punch and Judy shows, a bar and refreshments.

July 2017 – Still no date set for Birnbeck Pier’s north jetty demolition
In July 2017, it was reported that demolition work on Birnbeck Pier’s crumbling north jetty had stopped after it was discovered that CNM Estates did not have the necessary permissions to create an access road.

August 2017 – Street art event returns to Birnbeck Pier
For the third year in a row, August 2017 saw the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust’s Spray Jam event announced in which street artists were invited to the area around the pier to create new work to brighten up the area and raise money for the Trust. The artists would be painting the hoardings around the pier and there would also be a poetry jam and live music, a number of food stalls and artists would be selling their work and crafts.

September 2017 – Independent company to decide future of Birnbeck site
In September 2017, it was reported that an ‘independent’ company would decide what should happen to Weston-super-Mare’s derelict Royal Pier Hotel site after years of inaction by its owner, CNM Estates, and might also have a say in Birnbeck Pier’s future. The failure of CNM’s plans to build luxury apartments, bars and restaurants there had resulted in a bank loan of £2 million being subject to repayment and the possibility of the local council having to resolve the debt with a third party company.

September 2017 – Council ‘route map’ shows possible steps for restoring derelict structure
Later in September, a document was released under a Freedom of Information request to North Somerset Council which set out a possible ‘route map’ for the pier site. The proposal included a requirement for CNM to carry out remedial work, otherwise the council would be forced to foot the bill. The council said the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust (BRT), which wants to restore the pier, could play an important role in these plans.

December 2017 – Fantastic postcards of Weston Birnbeck Pier in its prime
In December 2017, the Somerset Live website published a series of seven postcards showing Birnbeck Pier in its prime.

January 2018 – North Jetty Demolition Plans
In January 2018, after further storm damage, Birnbeck Pier’s owner outlined plans for demolition of the pier’s north jetty. The best method to demolish the jetty was being considered by North Somerset Council.

February 2018 – Haunting pictures of Weston Birnbeck Pier
The Somerset County Gazette published a series of stunning pictures of the derelict Birnbeck Pier in February 2018, taken by a Somerset Camera Club member.

March 2018 – The Beatles visit to Weston Birnbeck Pier commemorated with new plaque
A poem etched on a plaque was installed at ‘Beatles Rock’ in March 2018. Anthony Keyes penned the poem on The Beatles’ 1963 visit to the town after performing at the Odeon, which saw the legendary Liverpudlians pictured on a rock overlooking the pier by GD Smith.

April 2018 – Royal Pier Hotel site at Weston Birnbeck goes up for sale!
In April 2018, it was reported that Weston-super-Mare’s Royal Pier Hotel site had been put up for sale, seven months after London-based firm CBRE was brought in as the receivers to decide what could happen to the Royal Pier Hotel. Because of a dispute between the previous owner, CNM Estates, and North Somerset Council, CBRE did not own the adjoining land which could not be included in the sale.

July 2018 – Offer made for Weston Royal Pier site
The Royal Pier Hotel site was owned by CNM Estates until September last year, when receiver CBRE was called in so the bank Investec could recoup its multi-million-pound investment.
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February 2019 – Moving tribute to Birnbeck Pier features on One Show
BBC One Show looked back at the history and memories of Birnbeck Pier. Lenny Henry urged viewers to ‘put your money in a box and buy the pier!’.

March 2019 – Birnbeck Pier owner contests repair notice
The owners of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Birnbeck Pier challenged North Somerset Council’s decision to issue it with a notice to repair the structure.
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March 2019 – Thankfully not ‘going with a bang’ at Weston Birnbeck Pier!
A bomb disposal squad rushed to Weston-super-Mare after a bomb was found by Birnbeck Regeneration Trust near Birnbeck Pier.
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May 2019 – Jail for theft of Birnbeck Pier’s historic clock
A father and son were jailed for stealing a historic clock from the listed pier. They removed the clock at Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier in the town on 31 January 2018.
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September 2019 – Birnbeck Pier owner served repair notice
The owners of a Grade II* listed Victorian pier were ordered to carry out repairs after a council said it had “exhausted all other options”. North Somerset Council said a repairs notice advised owners CNM Estates work must take place.
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September 2019 – What does the future hold for Birnbeck Pier?
Councillor Mr Crockford-Hawley said: “It’s this end of Weston which is the sore, it’s the carbuncle, it’s the clearly well past its prime and it needs some serious attention. I mean it would be wonderful if somebody came along with an open ended bank account and said ‘yup, I’d love to restore it for the sake of restoring it’, but quite clearly there’s got to be an economic future for the pier, there’s got to be a purpose for the pier”.
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December 2019 – The next steps for Weston Birnbeck as owners fail to comply with repairs notice
The future of Weston-super-Mare’s derelict Birnbeck Pier was set to be discussed in the New Year – after its owners failed to comply with a repairs notice. North Somerset Council, working with Historic England, issued the owner of the crumbling pier, CNM Estates, with a repairs notice in September. The notice ordered the company, headed by Wahid Samady, to carry out a series of ‘necessary repairs’ to the landmark.
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January 2020 – Possible compulsory purchase for Weston Birnbeck Pier?
Working with Historic England, North Somerset Council has begun the next step in securing the future of the pier and confirmed it will look at the possibility of a compulsory purchase order.
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February 2020 – Council votes to progress compulsory purchase order for Birnbeck Pier
Officers will prepare for making a compulsory purchase order for ‘the pier and the associated land holding’ after the authority’s executive voted in favour of the proposed way forward, which could take up to two years. Deputy leader Mike Bell said: “This is the beginning of exploring the compulsory purchase order and finding partners from the private or voluntary sector to work with us”.
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February 2020 – Storm damage at Birnbeck Pier
Birnbeck Pier has sustained some damaged after being hit by Storm Ciara. Photos appear to show part of the pier’s north jetty collapsing into the sea following the extreme weather. Yet North Somerset Council, which has seen the images, said not a lot is new damage.
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February 2020 – Further storm damage at Weston Birnbeck Pier
Simon Talbot Parsons, who works for The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, says he is now fearful about potential future damage. He said: “The main structure is still just about intact but I won’t be surprised if some more of the pier falls off in a few days time”.
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May 2020 – Pleas for people to stay away from Weston Birnbeck Pier
People are being urged to stay away from the crumbling Birnbeck Pier in North Somerset. Weston-super-Mare’s lifeboat crew rescued three people after they were cut off by the tide. It’s the fourth time they’ve had to carry out a rescue from Birnbeck Island in ten days.
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May 2020 – Compulsory purchase order for Weston Birnbeck Pier likely to go ahead this summer
Councillors will be asked to agree the move to issue the CPO to the owners of the pier when it meets in July.
A council spokesman said: “Officers have been working on the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) over the last few months with Historic England, pulling together background documents and evidence required for the CPO”.
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June 2020 – Council moves towards compulsory purchase order for Weston Birnbeck Pier
North Somerset Council, working with Historic England, issued the owner of the crumbling pier – CNM Estates – with a repairs notice in September. The notice ordered the company, headed by Wahid Samady – to carry out a series of ‘necessary repairs’ to the landmark. Mr Samady was given two months to respond to the notice. At this time, he has not produced any evidence of intention to conduct work at the site. The council is due to meet on July 14 to sign off the move to issue a CPO on CNM Estates in a bid to secure the future of the landmark.
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June 2020 – RNLI to be the new owners of Weston Birnbeck Pier?
At a meeting on Tuesday 14 July, North Somerset Council will receive a report to authorise the issuing of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for Birnbeck Pier. This process could take up to 18 months until confirmation is received from the Secretary of State. Leader of the Council, Don Davies, said: “We are delighted that an organisation as professional as the RNLI has decided to step in and potentially take ownership of Birnbeck Pier. We have given the owner many opportunities over the years to undertake the necessary repairs needed to preserve the pier, without success, even starting legal action to CPO the site as a last resort. This is a fantastic result following a great deal of work from council officers, Historic England and the RNLI”.
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July 2020 – RNLI reveals future plans for Weston Birnbeck Pier
The RNLI envisages removing the now crumbling raft and supporting structures, whilst providing all necessary crew and equipment office, training, maintenance/repair and storage facilities, plus environmentally sustainable visitor attractions. These include a visitor centre, walkways, gift shop and supporting facilities at the seaward end of the pier, to complement the use by the pier for RNLI. The ambition is to reinvigorate the pier to allow for public interest whilst having suitable facilities that will both build on the visitor attraction by generating income for RNLI.
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July 2020 – Weston’s Birnbeck Pier owners given the opportunity to sell as compulsory purchase order progresses
The owners of a derelict Victorian pier have been given the chance to sell it voluntarily after the local council voted to force its sale. North Somerset Council wants to secure the future of the Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare and voted for a compulsory purchase order. In September last year, owners CNM Estates were served an order to carry out repairs but no work has been done.
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July 2020 – Council offers £1 to Birnbeck owners for pier sale
The owners of Birnbeck Pier have been offered £1 to sell it and avoid the derelict Victorian structure being forcibly taken into public ownership. CNM Estates has been issued with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) after failing to carry out repairs. “I’ll deliver the pound coin personally if it makes it any quicker,” said Don Davies, leader of North Somerset Council, which made the offer.
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August 2020 – Birnbeck Pier owners submit application for pier repairs
As part of its application, CNM Estates, which has owned the pier since 2014, said its proposal was in response to the repairs notice issued by North Somerset Council. It said the planned works would ensure appropriate surveys and inspections are undertaken and arrange for all trestle bracing to be removed for repair or reconstruction. In February, the council approved the CPO, a process which could take up to 18 months to complete.
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September 2020 – RNLI forges ahead with plans for Birnbeck Pier
The RNLI confirmed in August 2020 it wanted to return to the Grade II*-listed pier and hailed North Somerset Council’s intervention to force its sale as a “positive step”. After the compulsory purchase, the authority would transfer the landmark to the RNLI. In its listed building application, the charity said it wanted to survey the support trestles, abutments and foundations so its plans for the pier could advance to concept design stage.
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September 2020 – Compulsory purchase order served for Birnbeck Pier
In September 2020, North Somerset Council served a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to the private owners of Birnbeck Pier. It intended to “immediately” transfer the Weston-Super-Mare site to the RNLI. The RNLI said it would oversee the repair of the Grade II* listed pier, the return of public access and the demolition of unsafe structures. CNM Estates, which owns the pier, was served an order to carry out repairs in September 2019, but no work had been done.
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October 2020 – Birnbeck Pier owners forge ahead with structural surveys despite CPO
The owners of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Birnbeck Pier said they were moving forward with plans to repair the structure – at the same time as the council wanted to force its sale. CNM Estates, which purchased the pier in 2012, had appointed specialists to carry out a 3D measured laser survey of the pier. The survey would provide vital information for engineers to carry out repair works to the structure. The news came just weeks after North Somerset Council agreed to move forward with the compulsory purchase of the pier.
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December 2020 – January 22nd deadline for sale of Weston Birnbeck Pier
The owners of a dilapidated Victorian pier were given until 22 January to find a buyer, a High Court Judge ruled. The decision relating to Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, was made in a hearing over a loan dispute. If no buyer was found, it could be sold to the charity RNLI for £350,000.
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January 2021 – Birnbeck Pier sold to the same owner!
North Somerset Council said it planned to continue with its compulsory purchase of Birnbeck Pier. A spokesman for North Somerset Council said: “Although Birnbeck Pier has changed ownership, the director is the same individual who has owned the historic structure for over a decade, and we remain deeply concerned that he has neglected the pier to such an extent that Historic England has put Birnbeck at the top of the National Buildings at Risk Register. We remain convinced that the Compulsory Purchase Order is the best way forward to restoring the pier and, working with Historic England, getting the RNLI back on the island to do what they do best, saving lives.”
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February 2021 – Council to continue with compulsory purchase order for Birnbeck Pier
Cllr Don Davies, leader of the council, said: “Despite the recent change of ownership to another company, the pier is still owned by the same individual who’s been in possession of it for the last decade. The same individual who’s allowed this historic jewel to crumble into the sea”.
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February 2021 – Weston Birnbeck Pier owner fights compulsory purchase order
The private owner of Birnbeck Pier put in an application to the magistrates court to put a stay on the compulsory purchase order (CPO) brought by North Somerset Council. The council had argued that a stay on proceedings lodged by CNM Estates last year following the council issuing a CPO on Birnbeck Pier was no longer justified due to the fact that the current owner had not undertaken any repairs on the pier either before or since the CPO was served, and as CNM Estates no longer had a legal interest in the site, following a transfer of ownership to Birnbeck Holdings Ltd, the case should be dismissed.
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October 2021 – ‘Pranksy Banksy’ at Birnbeck Pier vanishes!
The piece of art illustrating a fisherman with the words ‘No more plaice’ written above him, was put on a building at Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare. The enigmatic street artist had not claimed it as his work. The arrival of the artwork however was short-lived – and just days later it has disappeared. It is not known whether the painting was stolen or removed by its creator.
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November 2021 – Repairs at Weston Birnbeck Pier estimated to be £16 million
Taxpayers will not be asked to help pay for an estimated £16m repair project to bring an historic pier back into use. North Somerset Council has agreed to buy Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare from its current owners CNM Estates. The Victorian pier is in need of significant repairs and it is hoped that it could reopen to the public within five years. “We can’t have a drain on council tax payers resources,” said councillor Mark Canniford.
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November 2021 – Council buys Weston Birnbeck Pier
Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare will be bought by North Somerset Council and see the RNLI return to it. The council said it was a “significant milestone” and step towards welcoming the public back onto a “stunning piece of architecture” again. The restoration work will be carried out over several years and will be funded by the council, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Historic England and other grants.
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January 2022 – Weston Birnbeck Pier targeted by vandals
Vandals smashed in the front door of the Pier View building at the entrance to the structure overnight and the culprits used such force the door was ripped completely out of its frame. It is not known whether anything was stolen, but the attack has caused substantial damage to the building.
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August 2022 – Council’s purchase of Birnbeck Pier is still not finalised
Legal documents to seal the sale of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Birnbeck Pier were yet to be signed – despite an agreement being reached nine months ago. North Somerset Council agreed to buy the crumbling landmark from its owners CNM Estates – headed by businessman Wahid Samday – in November last year.
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October 2022 – £3.55 million funding secured for Birnbeck Pier
October saw the announcement that with funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and further funding from Historic England and the RNLI, the ‘legs’ of the pier would be stabilised and restored and a walkway installed, reinstating access to the Island. This vital first phase would allow North Somerset Council to move forward with their plans to see the Island regenerated for the benefit of the Weston community enabling the RNLI to pursue its ambition to re-establish a lifesaving facility on the island.
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October 2022 – Further funding boost for Weston Birnbeck Pier
Also in October it was reported that with funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and further funding from Historic England and the RNLI, the ‘legs’ of the pier would be stabilised and restored and a walkway installed, reinstating access to the Island. This vital first phase would allow North Somerset Council to move forward with their plans to see the Island regenerated for the benefit of the Weston community enabling the RNLI to pursue its ambition to re-establish a lifesaving facility on the island.
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November 2022 – Ownership court hearing for Birnbeck Pier delayed
In November, a court hearing to decide whether North Somerset Council would be granted powers to compulsory purchase Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier was postponed. North Somerset Council issued pier owners CNM Estates with a compulsory purchase order the previous September.
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November 2022 – Council to continue with compulsory purchase of Birnbeck Pier
North Somerset Council succeeded in a court case against the owner and was allowed to continue with a Compulsory Purchase Order. It was expected the CPO would be completed in 2023.
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December 2022 – Weston’s Tropicana and Birnbeck Pier to benefit from arts funding?
In December it was reported that North Somerset Council was to make a detailed bid to the Arts Council England Cultural Development Fund for £4.8m. Some of the money would be used to look at creating a ‘small scale’ cultural facility at Birnbeck Pier.
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January 2023 – Further storm damage at Weston Birnbeck Pier
A spokesman for the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust said: “Part of the bridge decking has succumbed to the elements. While the metal structure is still in place, the wooden planks have fallen through”.
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January 2023 – Funding for landward development at Birnbeck Pier
The council said the money would allow them to bring the buildings on the shore side of Birnbeck Pier back into use. Emergency funding was supplied by the National Heritage Memorial Fund last year to create a new walkway out to the island.
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January 2023 – New drone pictures show the continued deterioration of Weston Birnbeck Pier
The most recent damage earlier this month has followed heavy rain, strong winds and sub zero temperatures. Part of the decking on the bridge has now fallen into the sea, with pier campaigners re-iterating their warning for people to stay away from the dangerous structure.
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February 2023 – Funding to save Birnbeck Pier ‘just in time’
North Somerset Council councillor Mark Canniford said he expected the promised funds to arrive within three to six months. “The funders have come forward and we’ve had £3.5m already promised and another £4.5m been promised. That will get the pier open and it will get access for the general public,” he said. Future plans for the pier included a return for the RNLI and there were talks of the potential addition of a concert hall, a theatre or a new restaurant.
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February 2023 – Birnbeck Island to feature new museum
February saw an announcement that the former piermaster’s cottage at Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Island could be turned into a museum – as part of ambitious plans to breathe new life into the crumbling landmark. North Somerset Council was working to draw up plans for the cottage and the wooden hut, once used as a shop and cafe, as part of multi-million plans to restore Birnbeck Pier.
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March 2023 – Architect sought for the rejuvenation of Birnbeck Pier
The Birnbeck Back from the Brink project, planned to complete in 2030, with the aim of transforming the dilapidated coastal landmark into a ‘nationally unique destination’ intended to unlock local regeneration and provide a new base for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
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May 2023 – Ownership transfer of Birnbeck Pier to be decided at a public inquiry
In May 2023, it was reported that the final decision on transferring the ownership of the pier would be made at a public inquiry. It was hoped the inquiry would take place later in the year, although a date had yet to be set.
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July 2023 – Date set for compulsory purchase of Birnbeck Pier
In July 2023, it was reported that the CPO would take place between August 8 and August 10, 2023, and was confirmed by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
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July 2023 – New owners for Birnbeck Pier!
Later in July, it was announced that CNM Estates had withdrawn its objections to the CPO and the pier had been sold for £400,000. North Somerset Council had been attempting to acquire the structure from CNM Estates through a Compulsory Purchase Order.
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September 2023 – Restoration of Weston Birnbeck Pier begins!
September saw the announcement that restoration work to the landward side buildings would be delivered in 2024/5 as the project successfully secured some of the government’s Levelling Up funding. Repairs to the legs of the pier structure and the partial restoration of the deck, which would create safe access to Birnbeck Island, would also occur.
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December 2023 – Birnbeck Pier – Reminiscences
A collation of local resident’s memories of their experiences on the Pier, provoked by the public posting of a photograph of the pier dating to 1977. The photograph itself is of particular interest, in depicting the “White Pavilion” (Destroyed by fire in 1988) and the miniature railway (of the John Critchley era).
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December 2023 – Weston Birnbeck Pier – 2024 is the year for Birnbeck Pier
The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust confirmed that 2024 would represent the turnaround in the Pier’s fortunes, with the start of emergency repair works and longer-term planning for the Pier’s comprehensive regeneration. Despite a report that a further collapse to the 1898 pavilion had taken place during the recent storms, the Trust was deservedly positive about the future situation.
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January 2024 – Construction Contracts to be agreed
In January, it was reported that North Somerset Council would be meeting on the 7th February to agree on proposals for construction contracts, relating to the restoration works over the coming years. Over £9 million in funding had been secured, both for the active restoration works to the pier and to support the preparation of further funding applications.
The progress surrounding Birnbeck Pier over the last six months marked an undeniable change in direction to the fate of the pier. The sense of urgency in the Council’s work had been admirable. The National Piers Society would continue in direct contact with members of the Council
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February 2024 – Construction Contracts agreed
The Council meeting on the 7th February saw the proposed restoration contracts signed off and put out to tender. The contract for provisional safety works of the landward site was planned to begin in May. While a considerable time pressure for the project had been widely appreciated by all involved, the project was a long and complex process; the planning and Listed Building Consent process was yet to begin and would typically take several months to reach its resolution. As usual, the superficial condition of the pier could be monitored from home with the Birnbeck Restoration Trust’s online webcam (however at the time of writing, the camera appeared to have been knocked slightly out of alignment by the wind!).
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March 2024 – Weston Birnbeck Pier – The Way Forward (Upcoming Event)
The Weston Civic Society announced they would be holding a talk on proposals for Birnbeck Pier at Weston Museum on Monday 4th March. The talk would be given by Rachel Lewis of North Somerset Council and would involve the history of the pier and, of course, details of upcoming restoration work.
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April 2024 – Weston Birnbeck Pier – Proposals Submitted for Planning
After much anticipation, North Somerset Council submitted planning applications for the first phase of works to Birnbeck Pier. This phase, funded by £4.47 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund, proposed the stabilisation and partial restoration of the Grade-II listed buildings on Birnbeck Island and the foreshore; the extension of the Pier Master’s Cottage to form visitor facilities; and the installation of critical infrastructure across the site. The proposals were prepared by Haverstock Architects and the set of documents were available to view on the application page as linked below. Listed Building Consent was proposed in a separate application. It was certain that many discerning pier enthusiasts would be keen to examine the voluminous documentation in considerable detail; it would take many hours to fully absorb the material and was by any standards most exciting news!
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Read More (BBC)
Read More (Planning Application)

April 2024 – Weston Birnbeck Pier – Exhibition on the RNLI’s 200th Anniversary
During the RNLI’s 200th year, an exhibition of the local Weston RNLI was planned at Weston Library throughout May. This tied with future proposals for reinstating RNLI presence on Birnbeck Pier, and the event was part of a programme of community engagement for the pier regeneration project. The below link leads to North Somerset Council’s details for the exhibition, which in itself offered a number of useful links to related concerns.
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June 2024 – Weston Birnbeck Pier – A New Interpretation Board
The news of North Somerset Council’s progress and timescales for the Birnbeck Pier Project were displayed for the benefit of visitors at the pier viewpoint on Birnbeck Road. Paired with the existing Birnbeck Pier Regeneration Trust’s Information Hub, visitors to Weston could now be well-informed as to the future of the pier, which was gladly finally coming into focus after many years of uncertainty.
For a reproduction of the Interpretation Board, see the June 2024 Media News page on this website

August 2024 – Birnbeck Pier gets Planning Approval for Phase 1 Restoration
The ongoing planning process for the first phase of Birnbeck Pier’s restoration concluded with a unanimous committee vote towards its approval, allowing the scheme of works to proceed this year. Specifically, this involved the restoration of the shore-side buildings including the pier master’s cottage; the delivery of infrastructure to the site in accordance with its future public uses; and the stabilisation (but not yet restoration) of the buildings on Birnbeck Island. The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust’s online webcam was offline from the start of August, preventing monitoring of the status of the project.
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September 2024 – Planning Submitted for Structural Repairs
October 2024 – Work Begins
October 2024 – Proposals Submitted for RNLI Developments
November 2024 – £10 Million Additional Funding
November 2024 – Update on Cliff Repairs
November 2024 – Project Procurement to be Discussed
December 2024 – Planning Application Submitted for Phase 2B
January 2025 – Contractor Sought for Restoration Work
March 2025 – “Call the Police – there is An Object!”
June 2025 – A Brief Update From the Leader of the Council
June 2025 – RNLI PULLS OUT OF BIRNBECK PROJECT
June 2025 – Donations to the RNLI
July 2025 – RNLI Statement
July 2025 – An Assurance from the Council
July 2025 – Phase 2 Works Commence
July 2025 – Car Park to Remain Open in Short Term
August 2025 – £111K Grant Awarded to Birnbeck Pier
September 2025 – Restoration Project Likely to be Cancelled
September 2025 – Restoration Project Funding is Secured
September 2025 – Update on Works
November 2025 – Update on Restoration Works
January 2026 – Progress Update
February 2026 – Reconstruction of the “Pier Bridge” Commences
March 2026 – A Timber Recycling Scheme
March 2026 – A £19 Million Funding Award
April 2026 – The Entire Story
April 2026 – Further £62,000 Funding
April 2026 – Photographic Partner to the Project
May 2026 – Reconstruction Progress Update
May 2026 – Further Progress Update
June 2026 – Report on a Formal NPS Visit to Birnbeck Pier
June 2026 – Update on Pier Operation Plans
July 2026 – The Flags Are Risen
August 2026 – Heritage Open Day Events… And a Cardboard Pier
August 2026 – The “Loovre Gallery”
September 2026 – Reconstruction Progress

September 2026 – “First Steps” Event and a Cardboard Erection

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