The Brighton West Pier trust are still optimistic their restoration plans can go ahead despite the blaze which wrecked the old theatre on Friday.
Firefighters said the fire, in the last largely intact section of the derelict West Pier, was probably arson.
The exact cause may never be known because the structure is not considered safe enough for investigators to examine.
But the cast iron and steel frame appears still to be relatively solid and the trust, which owns the grade I listed pier, says it hopes the restoration can go ahead.
After 30 years of frustration, the fire is seen as nothing more than the latest in a line of setbacks.
Dr Geoff Lockwood, chief executive of the West Pier Trust, said the work would start "no matter what".
The shell of the pier would have been pulled down anyway.
Anthony Glossop, of developer St Modwen, said the fire had no effect on the overall proposals.
He said: "There will be a rebuild. It will be a very good rebuild. The only sad thing is we might have been able to save a few more artefacts which have now been burnt."
Monday March 31 2003
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