A multimillion-pound scheme to redevelop Scarborough's historic West Pier is expected to be finished by November 2028, with senior councillors defending the project's value for money.
A planned redevelopment of an historic pier on the Yorkshire Coast is set to be completed by the end of 2028.
The extensive work on Scarborough’s West Pier should be finished by November 2028, councillors have been told, as the local authority presses forward with its major regeneration efforts.
The multimillion-pound scheme is designed to breathe new life into the coastal infrastructure. It includes plans for a purpose-built facility at the far end of the pier, which is expected to house four retail kiosks, public toilets, a store, welfare facilities, and an electricity substation to support local operations.
However, the financial scale of the development was recently questioned at a full meeting of North Yorkshire Council, which took place on Wednesday, May 20.
During the session, Reform’s Councillor Tom Seston raised concerns over the expenditure, directly asking the council leadership whether the extensive redevelopment scheme constitutes good value for money for the taxpayer.
It was revealed that the project has cost £1.7 million so far, and while the exact final figure is yet to be confirmed, it is set to cost around £15 million overall.
Councillor Mark Crane, who serves as the executive member for open to business, defended the financial outlay. He explained that the severe deterioration of the existing structures meant that inaction was not a viable option for the local authority.
Councillor Mark Crane said:
"The spend today is circa 1.7 million pounds. The total project cost is not finalized yet but it's in the order of 15 million pounds. And we're hoping that the project is completed by November 2028.
Because of the condition of the buildings and the state of the pier, I believe it is good value for money because if the council had sat back and done nothing, then they would continue to collapse and we wouldn't have a pier that was worth looking after."
The responsibility for the historic structure was transferred to the new unitary authority from the former Scarborough Borough Council.
Councillor Mark Crane stressed that the significant investment is necessary to ensure the town is left in a better position for the future, despite the heavy financial burden of the ongoing works.
Councillor Mark Crane added:
"I believe it is good value for money, because if the council had sat back and done nothing and we inherited with these with the greatest of respect from Scarborough borough Council, if we had sat back and done nothing, then they would continue to collapse and we wouldn't have a pier that was worth looking after.
And I believe that whilst it's a significant sum of money, it will leave Scarborough in a much better place at the end of it.
We should be proud of Scarborough and all the offers this great council, and so, yes, I think it will be good value for money at the end, though the cost of it, let's be clear, is very significant."
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