At a special meeting on Monday, Councillor Jacob Taylor will propose that the cabinet approve additional funding to advance the restoration of 28 out of the 151 Madeira Terrace arches on Brighton’s seafront.
Councillor Taylor, who serves as both a Brighton and Hove City councillor and the cabinet member for finance and city regeneration, noted that efforts have been made to reduce the project’s cost, with certain elements of the work scaled back.
The proposed additional funding will necessitate further borrowing by the council. According to the Local Democracy Service, cost-saving measures for the £12 million initial phase of the project will include the removal of benches below the deck, deck planters, and back-to-back seating to create a more flexible walkway. Engineering cost reductions will involve changing the construction method for the concrete deck and substituting cast iron facing plates and gutters with mild steel.
This is not the first instance of scaling back phase one of the project. Originally, the plan was to restore 40 arches of the historic walkway in the first phase, but the decision was made last year to focus on 28 arches instead.
Phase one will involve installing a new lift, fully replacing the upper deck with a waterproofed surface, setting up infrastructure for canopies and pop-up events, painting the terraces with a more durable material, and updating the green wall. Additional improvements will include a new staircase near Concorde 2/Shelter Hall, reinstatement of the planted verges at Madeira Drive level, a pedestrian-friendly layout, enhanced beach access, two new crossing points, and seating on the upper deck.
Councillor Taylor stated, “We are dedicated to the restoration of Madeira Terrace and aim to proceed as quickly as possible. Therefore, we are calling for an urgent cabinet meeting to make a decision and move forward. The terrace is a cherished part of our heritage and is crucial to our efforts to revitalize the seafront.”
He added, “Restoring such a historic structure is a complex task requiring specialized work and materials. Despite the budgetary challenges, we have managed to find some cost savings without significantly affecting phase one. The additional funding and the decision to proceed with the restoration of 28 arches and a new accessible lift are essential investments for the city and the ongoing regeneration of the eastern seafront.”
Madeira Terrace, built in the late 1800s to attract tourists, is a Grade II listed structure and, at over half a mile long, is considered the longest cast iron structure in Britain. The council hopes that completing the first phase will demonstrate the terrace’s potential for successful restoration and attract funding for future phases.
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