A SUSSEX developer says he wants to fund the rebuilding of Brighton's famous West Pier.
Mike Holland, who recently stared in Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire, wants to restore the pier which burnt down in 2003, by 2016 - in time for the 150th anniversary of its opening.
Mr Holland said he wishes to redevelop the burnt-out pier in a similar way to Weston Super Mare's restored pier.
Owner, the West Pier Trust, is pleased about the interest but said its current focus is the i360 tower development.
The pier has been shut to the public since 1975 because it was regarded as unsafe.
"Leaving it as it is is not an option," said Mr Holland.
"2016 will be the 150th anniversary of when it was built and I would like to see it rebuilt before then.
"I've stood back for a long time waiting for someone to come up to the plate. Nobody has, let's crack on with it."
He said he has contacted the architects who redeveloped the pier in Weston Super Mare, which reopened in 2010, who have said the cost of restoration would be approximately £25m.
He said he would supply the money along with other members of the local business community and also apply for heritage funding.
Rachel Clark, the Chief Executive of the West Pier Trust, said: "I would be very interested to look at his figures.
"I would say it's unlikely to create a new pier out of what remains of the West Pier for that little money [£25m].
The problem the pier has always faced is that any potential development must be financially viable and leave the pier independent and self-funding in the long-run.
However, most proposed schemes have required a foreshore 'supporting development' - a commercial property which will generate an income additional to whatever revenue-raising is possible on the pier itself.
Opposition has grown over the years to these plans as local people feel that any development on the lower promenade could amount to a large shopping mall and additional traffic congestion.
This is why plans for the i360 tower were approved. It is a tourist attraction with the potential to generate a great deal of revenue for the City, but with little impact or room needed on the foreshore.
"We are completely committed to delivering the i360 first,â Rachel explains.
"Once we have the i360 we think it's very likely we'll also be able to get the new West Pier but the financial equations are very tricky with piers.â
The i360 is a 600ft (183m) viewing platform planned for Brighton seafront. Its construction has been delayed.
Ms Clark said: "It's a shame it's taking longer than we hoped to deliver, that's due to the very tough economic conditions we've had since 2008.
We are always pleased to hear about serious interest in the pier and certainly hope eventually to rebuild it, however we must keep focused on delivering the i360.
Without that major new attraction on the site a new pier is not viable.
Article courtesy of Love Brighton, the free weekly paper for Brighton and Hove.
