Govt confirms £20m Southport Pier repairs cash

After a nervous, nearly six month-wait, Sefton Council has received confirmation that the money promised to mend the grade two-listed structure has been signed off by the Department for Business and Trade.

The £20m to repair Southport Pier, the country’s second-longest pier, will come from the government’s £240m Growth Mission Fund. The pledge was made on the eve of the Labour Party Conference last year and comes days before the start of purdah ahead of the local elections in May.

Southport Pier has been closed since 2022 amid safety fears and the council has since then struggled to find a way to deliver the work needed to see the pier reopened, which has drawn criticism from some quarters.

The restoration work will include:

• Full replacement of decking boards and timber joists

• Extensive steelwork repairs and replacements due to corrosion

• Installation of new gates and CCTV

• Introduction of a robust long-term maintenance regime.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, said: “My economic plan to build a stronger and more secure economy is the right one – cutting the cost of living, cutting the national debt, and creating the conditions for growth through investment.

“Backing Southport with £20m to restore its iconic pier to its former glory is part of this plan. Today, that money has been delivered, and once reopened, it will make the area a more attractive place to live, work, visit and start a business.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Approval from DBT is fantastic news for Southport, our residents and the millions of visitors who love our pier.

“We have worked tirelessly to make the strongest possible case for this investment, and I am delighted that Government recognises both the importance of Southport Pier and the urgency of its restoration.

“As I have said many times, we were ready to begin works the moment funding was confirmed—and now we can. This is a vital milestone in safeguarding one of our most cherished heritage assets.”