The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced that Swanage Pier Trust is to receive a substantial grant to get its restoration project back on track, despite the setbacks created by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Swanage Pier Regeneration Project has been awarded £469,800. It’s one of only 22 heritage projects across the country to be successful in getting a share of the £13.5m grant. The open-air Black Country Living Museum in Dudley is to receive the largest slice – it’s been awarded £3,740,000.
Major renovation work on Swanage Pier took place in 2018 to replace a number of the wooden piles that support the structure of the pier, alongside the refurbishment of Marine Villas, that now houses the popular hospitality business, the1859 Pier Cafe and Bistro.
Supports fishing, diving, boat trips and watersports
Not just a tourist attraction providing one of the best views of Swanage and the Old Harry Rocks, it also supports fishing, diving, boat trips and watersports.
It was hoped that the project, including the replacement of several more piles, would be able to be completed through further fundraising and events but the pandemic meant that the pier had to close and so these plans were put on hold.
Now it’s been thrown a lifeline in the way of a grant from the Heritage Capital Kickstart Fund.
“Help to provide a long-term sustainable future”
Chief executive of Swanage Pier Trust, Ben Adeney said:
“We are absolutely delighted to hear that we’ve been awarded the grant. This will allow us to complete the work that we started and it will help to safeguard the future of our Victorian pier.
“This is a real investment, not just in the pier but also in our local community. Even though we are a small coastal resort, we’re expecting more visitors to Swanage than ever this summer and it’s fantastic that we can offer everyone so much to see and do.
“This will help to provide a long-term sustainable future – great news for Swanage!”
“All places that will enrich hundreds of lives when they reopen”
The Heritage Capital Kickstart Fund is distributed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is part of the government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund package.
Chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ros Kerslake said:
“These are all ongoing major refurbishment and restoration projects, funded by us, which have been threatened by the pandemic.
“From the oldest surviving outdoor swimming baths to a Victorian pier, and from a much-loved park to an historic abbey, these are all places that will enrich hundreds of lives when they reopen.
“We are delighted this extra funding from the Culture Recovery Fund will ensure that these exciting projects will go ahead.”
