Birnbeck Pier and Island are significant sites in
Weston-super-Mare and their redevelopment is a key element in the
regeneration of the town.
Birnbeck Island, Pier and Headland were acquired
by Urban Splash in September
2006. They are property developers who specialise in urban
regeneration projects.
Urban Splash announced a competition in August 2007 to find
a design team to work in partnership with to bring life back to the
historic pier and island site. The competition received 95
entries from across the world including Hong Kong, Canada, Russia
and the USA.
A public exhibition of the six shortlisted designs
was held at the Winter Gardens in
December 2007 and visitors were encouraged to provide their
feedback to help the judging panel select a winner.
In March 2008 the judging panel selected the concept proposed by
Levitate Architecture and Design
Studio Ltd as the winning design.
Levitate's ideas include restoring historic buildings and
adding two new buildings, which may include a hotel, leisure and
residential accommodation. On the headland Levitate have
proposed a residential development.
Urban Splash is now working closely with the design team at
Levitate to refine the development plans and produce a final design
for the island and foreshore.
The Grade II Listed pier was opened in 1867 and enjoyed great
success as a major tourist attraction, with paddle steamers using
it to ferry passengers between Weston and Wales. It holds a
unique place among British piers, being the only one in the country
that links to an island.
Over the last 20 years the pier has gradually fallen into
disrepair and neglect. Today the site is largely derelict,
though the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI) has a fully operational lifeboat station on the island
which has been there for over 125 years.
For more information contact our
Regeneration
Manager.
