Work to restore and reopen Southport Pier has finally been given the green light, after Sefton Council secured £20m funding from the government’s Growth Mission fund for the much-anticipated renovation project, which is scheduled to take 14 months to complete.

Sefton Council has predicted Southport Pier could reopen by 2027, with work to restore the shuttered landmark beginning next year following the allocation of £20m from the government’s Growth Mission fund.

The project to restore the Grade II-listed structure is expected to take 14 months, and would see the landmark finally brought back into public use after five years of closure, which is estimated to have cost the town £75m in lost tourism income.

“Southport Pier is a structure with a rich history but regrettably with a poor refurbishment programme carried out in early 2000s, the refurbishment left the pier very vulnerable,” council leader Marion Atkinson told the BBC.

“The council is in the process of submitting a business case to the Department for Business and Trade with the expectation work will begin in early 2026. A two-stage design and build procurement process has already been completed, while listed building consent is also secured.”

The 165-year old pier, which is estimated to contribute more than £15m every year to Southport’s economy, has remained closed since 2022 following concerns over safety, causing consternation for local residents, visitors and concession holders notably arcade operator Colin Jamieson.

The renovation will now restore the pier’s structural integrity, as well as adding new gates and CCTV cameras, with Sefton Council’s Cabinet due to meet on 6 November to sign off the final plans.

“The pier is a symbol of Southport’s identity, history and now, thanks to the council and central government, secured for the town’s future too,” added Atkinson.