Historic England has earmarked more £100,000 for the restoration of a dilapidated toll house at a pier in Weston-super-Mare, with plans to convert it into a public space and visitor hub.
The refurbishment of Birnbeck Pier, the only pier in the country that links to an island, will proceed with the historic Toll House situated at the entrance to the pier.
Birnbeck, which has been closed to the public since 1994, is a longstanding emblem of Weston's coastal heritage. Now, the neglected Grade II listed Toll House and its extension, locally referred to as the 'shell shop', are set to be meticulously restored and reopened as a new community-centric space.
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Once complete, the building is slated to function as a volunteer hub and information point, offering a fresh start for the structure and an exciting chance to reconnect locals and tourists alike.
Proposals include utilising the space to host exhibitions showcasing local memories and oral histories, celebrating the voices and stories of Weston's residents.
The initiative forms a vital part of the broader restoration of Birnbeck Pier, a nationally significant Weston landmark and a cherished component of the town's future.
Earlier this year, the RNLI, which was financing major portions of the project with the aim of returning its Weston-super-Mare lifeboat station to Birnbeck Island, withdrew due to viability concerns, reports .
The departure of North Somerset Council's primary partner in the project once again cast doubt on the future of Birnbeck Pier.
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Council leader Mike Bell (Weston-super-Mare Central, Liberal Democrat) described the RNLI decision as "disappointing and frustrating for everyone involved".
He said: "The RNLI have been an important partner and we did not expect this decision so late in the process. But I just want to reassure everyone that this is not the end of the Birnbeck project - it is just a new challenge for us to overcome."
Cllr Bell addressed councillors at a meeting on July 8, where members had been scheduled to approve the contract award for bridge restoration to JT Mackley and Co Ltd - however, the report was withdrawn following the RNLI's withdrawal.
The RNLI had served as a key partner, providing North Somerset Council with £400k to purchase the pier in 2023.
The organisation was set to contribute £5.25m towards restoring the bridge connecting to the island, but this funding failed a viability assessment conducted just prior to the meeting.
During the session, Cllr Bell said: "We are determined to try and keep the show on the road and I want to thank the other funders for their continued commitment and support for the project: the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and the 海角视频 government.
"Today we also met with the local MP Dan Aldridge who continues to be a champion for the project and he has agreed to explore avenues for any national funding from the 海角视频 government that may be open to us."
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The RNLI had intended to transform the derelict pavilion on Birnbeck Island into a cutting-edge lifeboat station, enabling launches from the island once more.
Since 2014, Weston-super-Mare's lifeboat station has operated from temporary storage containers beside the Marine Lake, as the pier had deteriorated beyond safe use.
Announcing the charity's withdrawal from the scheme on June 27, RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes stated that the organisation lacked confidence in the funding and contractual framework to deliver the project to completion or maintain the pier.
He said: "It is with regret that we have come to this decision but as a charity, our donors give us their money in trust, and we have a duty of care to spend this money in a way that enables us to save lives for many years to come."