Architect has faith in return of pier

The Argus Wednesday, 28 May, 2003

A LEADING architect says he has no doubt Brighton's West Pier can be fully restored.

John Burrell, an expert on historic buildings, said the revitalised pier would look even better than before.

Mr Burrell has been appointed to work with the Brighton West Pier Trust, English Heritage, Brighton and Hove City Council and developers St Modwen as a heritage architect.

Planning permission to restore the Grade I listed building was given in February by the city council, despite two collapses of the central concert hall in December and January.

Since then, fire has severely damaged both the concert hall and theatre, leading some critics to doubt whether restoration is practical.

There have also been suggestions that instead of restoring the pier, a new contemporary replacement should be built.

Mr Burrell was at one time on the board of the West Pier Trust.

He said: "I am not a fanatic and I am able to look at the pier objectively. I don't see the damage as being a problem in restoration."

Mr Burrell said the pier was not a complicated structure and the cast iron skeleton remained.

Now that much of the structure had gone, it enabled restorers to concentrate on the details.

Mr Burrell and his firm Burrell Foley Fischer specialise in work on listed buildings and making them relevant to today's environment.

Trust chief executive Geoff Lockwood welcomed the appointment of Mr Burrell and said he would help ensure the authenticity of the restoration.