Engineers familiar with the derelict West Pier in Brighton have warned against attempting to rebuild the landmark, suggesting the ruined structure “is beyond the point of no return for economic refurbishment.”

Jon Orrell, founder of civil and structural engineering firm HOP Consulting, told the Telegraph that the project would cost upwards of £50m, with the end result needing to be “pretty damn fancy” in order to recoup the investment.

“It’s gradually deteriorating and collapsing,” said Orrell. “Most of the timber is gone, so anything that collapses now is going to go and settle in the great murk and tangled mess on the seabed… Not only is it sharp and dangerous, there’s big heavy lumps which may or may not be suitably supported. I wouldn’t go anywhere near it.”

“It is beyond the point of no return for economic refurbishment. There’s no point rebuilding anything unless there’s an end use for it that generates all the money, and it’d have to be pretty damn fancy to get anywhere near the sort of costs that you’d need to rebuild it.