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What next for Birnbeck Pier? Council ‘route map’ shows possible steps for restoring derelict structure

New steps which could potentially help to restore Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier can be exclusively revealed this week, after the future of the derelict structure was plunged into fresh uncertainty.

‘Time is running out’ for the pier, which has been in a state of decay for decades, but as it has remained in private ownership attempts to restore it have remained a dream.

Last week, the Mercury revealed how pier owner, CNM Estates, has spent £4million on the nearby Royal Pier Hotel site, and its bank is now trying to recoup loans of £2million.

That has seen property firm CPRE called in as receivers for the hotel site, but Birnbeck Pier is owned under a separate firm under the CNM Estates banner.

CNM chairman Wahid Samady told the Mercury CPRE could look at both sites when it makes a decision about the hotel land – be that to sell it or apply for planning permission for development.

The Mercury has obtained a document through a freedom of information request which shows how North Somerset Council and interested heritage bodies could yet find a way forward for the pier.

Birnbeck Pier 'route map' The route map was taken from an email sent by Historic England to North Somerset Council in October 2016, and obtained by the Mercury through an FOI request. 

It says: "The contents are self-explanatory but are indicative of their support for the route map now being considered.

"The council can take a number of routes to move forward. It is important that no option be left which could be developed."

Birnbeck Pier 'route map'

The route map was taken from an email sent by Historic England to North Somerset Council in October 2016, and obtained by the Mercury through an FOI request.

It says: "The contents are self-explanatory but are indicative of their support for the route map now being considered.

"The council can take a number of routes to move forward. It is important that no option be left which could be developed."

Open negotiation

"It is important to pursue active negotiations and discussions with the current owner, CNM Estates. Whilst they do not have a track record of resolving complex heritage issues and implementing development this line of discussion has to be maintained in good faith."

Section 215 notice

The council would have the power to serve a notice on the owner to have the land cleared up.

"Given the limited liability of serving a Section 215 notice and the clear signal this sends this would appear to be a line that should be followed. It may be that the focus of the notice simply relates to hoarding and mainland parcels of land held by the owner."

Review of options

"Following initial political support an initial review of strategy should take place. Discussion between North Somerset and Historic England’s head of Legal services, Development Economics Director, Heritage At Risk Principal and the Inspector for Buildings and Areas should take place. Discussions with the RNLI need to occur, given their legal interest in their station, currently unused."

Repairs notice - funding

A repairs notice would allow the council to order works to be done. The council fears if the work is not carried out, it would have to carry the cost.

However, Historic England says: "An application should be made to Historic England for financial assistant to underwrite the costs of drafting a repairs notice... This work should commence if assistance is offered by Historic England."

Capacity building

"It is critical the capacity of the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust be developed. Historic England at this initial stage has offered to assist with this."

Funding

"In tandem with the drafting of the repairs notice discussions should take place with Heritage Lottery Fund and other appropriate bodies to see how they can assist."

Viability assessment

"If there is no response from the owners after the serving of the Repairs... independent advice should be commissioned to undertake a viability assessment to allow members to be assured that a viable solution for the site is available. When there is confidence in capacity and funding the CPO should be served."

The council paper is described as a ‘possible route map’ for Birnbeck and options include ordering CNM to carry out urgent repair works.

But there are fears if CNM did not carry out the work, the council would be forced to step in and would be left footing the bill.

This has already happened with the Royal Pier Hotel, which the council demolished for £103,000 after a fire – but CNM Estates is yet to pay the money back. The council is now in talks with CPRE about recouping this money.

The possibility of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for Birnbeck has long been cited as one way for the council to take control, but the document says: “The council need not and should not move forward with the serving of a CPO until there is certainty that a viable and stable solution for Birnbeck Pier.

“Given the significant role [a] third party would play in arriving at an end solution there may well be a cost in terms of officer time when developing its capacity.”

The council says the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust (BRT), which wants to restore the pier, could be this viable third party.

Ward councillor John Crockford-Hawley said: “Though believing compulsory purchase may well be the only realistic way to move forward, I have been reluctant to press the issue in public because it could raise the current owner’s valuation hopes.

“I would like to see the RNLI become a major player in the pier’s future (they still own parts), but given the huge financial commitment which would be necessary to save Birnbeck there’s an urgent need for much greater hard-headed professionalism than has been seen thus far.”

Cllr Crockford-Hawley said the pier’s buildings are ‘beyond redemption’ but it is important to save the bridge and find ways to generate money from Birnbeck.

He added: “Time is running out for what is bound to be a multi-million pound project. Now is the time for serious discussion with serious players. But nothing will change until CNM is little more than a distant memory.”

The BRT is applying for heritage funding to help it to take the huge project forward. It has also met RNLI representatives to try to involve the charity in its plans.

The RNLI left Birnbeck in 2013 due to safety concerns, and is yet to build a new Weston lifeboat station.

Weston RNLI spokesman Glyn Hayes said: “We believe it will take a long time to repair the pier. We cannot wait until that should happen because it’s many years off, even if everything went according to plan.”

Source: Mecury 

25 September 2017