Brighton and Hove Council could spend extra £3m on Madeira Terrace

At a special meeting on Monday, Councillor Jacob Taylor will recommend the cabinet agrees additional funds to move forward with work to restore 28 of the 151 Madeira Terrace arches on Brighton's seafront.

The Brighton and Hove City councillor, who is also cabinet member for finance and city regeneration, said the council has been working to try and bring the cost of the scheme down and certain aspects of the work have been scaled back.

He said the additional funding will require the council to borrow more.

The Local Democracy Service reported cost-saving measures to the £12 million first phase of the project will include removing benches below the deck and removing the deck planters and back-to-back seating, to make the walkway a flexible space.

Engineering cost reductions include changing the method for constructing the concrete deck, and replacing cast iron facing plates and gutters with mild steel.

It is not the first time parts of phase one have been scaled back.

Initial plans from Brighton and Hove City Council would have seen 40 arches of the historic cast iron walkway in the first phase of the project but last year the decision was made to repair 28 instead.

What will phase one entail?

Phase one of the restoration will include a new lift, full replacement of the upper deck with a waterproofed deck, infrastructure for canopies/shades and for pop-up events, and painting of the terraces with a system “guaranteed” to perform better in coastal conditions than traditional materials available to the Victorians, refacing and regreening the green wall where possible.

A new staircase will also be created down from the deck next to Concorde 2 / Shelter Hall, the reinstatement of the planted verges at Madeira Drive level, a more pedestrian-friendly layout in front of the terrace, providing beach access for all and including two new crossing points, and seating to the upper deck.

Councillor Taylor said: “We are committed to the restoration of Madeira Terrace and want to proceed with it as soon as possible. That's why we are calling an urgent cabinet meeting to make a decision and get moving.

“The terrace is a treasured part of our unique heritage and, along with Black Rock, the King Alfred and Hove Beach Park schemes, is integral to rebuilding a seafront to be proud of.

“The restoration of such a historic structure is a unique and challenging project that requires highly specialist work, equipment and materials. In a period of cost inflation, the leading tender response came in over budget and we have been working on trying to bring the cost down.

Madeira Lift (Image: Andy Gardner)

“Some cost savings have been found without significantly reducing phase one and the cabinet will be asked to agree the additional funding and proceed with the planned 28 arches and new fully accessible lift.

“While this will require more borrowing by the council, it is an essential investment for the city and continued regeneration of the eastern seafront.

“The prolonged tender discussions have had an impact on timescales and so we have called a special cabinet meeting to speed up the process, rather than wait till next cabinet in September.”

Madeira Terrace was originally built as a covered promenade and viewing platform to attract tourists in the late 1800s. The Grade II listed structure opened to the east of Royal Crescent in 1890 and was later extended to meet what is now Sea Life Brighton.

At more than half a mile, it is considered the longest cast iron structure in Britain.

The council said it hopes completing the first phase of the restoration will showcase how the terrace can be successfully restored and will help to attract funding for subsequent phases.