Work to Begin on Permanent Repair for Worthing Pier

Work on a permanent repair to protect Worthing Pier for future generations is set to begin this August.

Worthing pier had to be closed suddenly in October 2024 after it suffered storm damage to its supporting piles that left it unsafe for the public.

Council officers worked with specialist engineering companies to have a temporary steel support structure designed and built to sit underneath the weakened section of the pier and give it extra strength.

Now, after 18 months of work by council and specialist engineers, a solution has been developed that the Council say will give the pier new foundations to allow it to stand against the elements without the need for the steel support structure.

The plan involves removing a number of existing columns and piles, including their pile foundations and concrete casings from below the surface of the beach. New piles will then be driven into the ground to support the pier, with bull bars and ties fitted to the new piles to provide additional strength.

The hope is that by doing the work in the summer and early autumn when the weather conditions and tides are generally easier to work in, the project will be able to be completed more quickly and more cost effectively, with the pier able to remain open at the same time.

The project is now forecast to cost up to £550,000 - down from the original £930,000 estimate - as the solution designed involves working from below the pier rather than having to remove and then refit the timber deck and supports to access the piles.

Councillor Caroline Baxter, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “When we installed the temporary steel support beneath the pier in December 2024, we said it would give us the time needed to develop a permanent solution. I’m delighted that we’re now able to take that next step and deliver permanent repairs.

“Our pier is one of Worthing’s best-loved landmarks and a huge part of our coastal heritage. Looking after it isn’t just about maintaining a structure - it’s about protecting a place that means so much to local people and continues to attract visitors from across the country.

“This is about taking pride in Worthing, protecting what makes our town special and making sure our iconic pier can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The pier’s landing stage, which is primarily used by the town’s fishing community, has also reopened following essential maintenance works.

Some additional work will take place over the coming months when tides allow, but degraded handrails have been replaced and the landing stage platform is now said to be in good condition for everyone to enjoy safely.

The major repair work on the pier will be carried out during each month’s spring low tides, when the tide goes out far enough for the team to have a good amount of time on the beach. During the warmer months, low tides last for longer periods and the weather is less severe - providing safer conditions for work on the beach and the pier.

It is hoped that activity will begin on site in August and will be complete before the end of autumn.

(pic: Cllr Caroline Baxter and her Cabinet)