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06/12/2007, 2:28 AM David Spear (Web Editor) Joined on 20/08/2003 Posts 104 What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? A FESTIVAL venue, hotel, houses or even an 'inhabitable mountain' - what would you like to see on one of Weston's most historic landmarks? The Weston & Somerset Mercury brings you the images of the six short-listed designs for Birnbeck Pier and its island. Manchester-based company Urban Splash, which bought the site and part of the surrounding land last year, organised a competition for people to come up with some bright ideas for developing the area. A panel of judges has come up with the six designs they consider to be worthy enough to make it through to the final rounds of the contest. Some of the ideas selected for the deciding stages include creating: * A 'Birnbeck Village' with a feature described as similar to that of Table Top Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. * A sustainable development, which uses its own resources for energy. * Seaside holiday accommodation for all price ranges, from expensive hotels to basic beach hut styles. * A music venue for festivals and concerts. * A new island called Pleasure Holm. An exhibition of all the short-listed entries is being held at the Winter Gardens in Weston until Saturday. Members of the public will be able to go along and air their views on the designs. The exhibition will be open today from 11am-5.30pm and on Saturday from 9.30am-2pm. The short-listed teams will be invited back for second stage interviews and people living in North Somerset will have the opportunity to comment on the finalists' designs. It is expected that an overall winner will be announced in the early months of 2008. The winning designer will walk away with a prize of £25,000 and then will be paid a commission fee for their work, which could reach a figure of up to £1million.   Tell us if you think the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment should be: shopping, holiday accommodation, residential or entertainment!   AOC Architecture, of London, says Birnbeck Island could become an inhabitable mountain, a spectacularly 'natural' landmark. Pierre d'Avoine Architects and White Young Green Planning & Design, of Cardiff, suggest making Birnbeck into a small island and renaming it Pleasure Holm, inspired by Steep Holm and Flat Holm. Levitate Architecture and Design Studio Ltd, of London, proposes to reveal natural rock and create a 'complimentary alternative' to the town's busy seafront. It wants to build a place where people can explore rock pools, bird watch or simply sit and watch the sunset. Richards Partington Architects, of London, wants to create a 'striking inhabited pier on the south of the island'. FLACQ Architects, of London, suggest a sustainable development using the site's natural resources to heat, cool, filter, cleanse and grow everything. MOH Architects, of Vienna, wants to build an iconic development but says it wants the open space to become the icon itself, rather than the built space. It wants to 'work with the existing qualities of the site, the historic fabric and the subsequent size constraints'.    Report

08/12/2007, 6:32 AM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? I went to the exhibition of design entries at the Winter Gardens this week and was absolutely staggered by the number of submissions. The people of Weston should be proud that 95 companies from all over the world thought enough of the project to spend time and money entering the competition. That's the interest and credibility that a company like Urban Splash bring with them, and I think it's exciting. The worst thing would be a same old same old redevelopment that lacks flair, imagination and an eye to the future. You can get that anywhere. What Weston needs is something original. The designs I saw this week certainly were original.

08/12/2007, 10:52 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? It was incredible to see all the entries and the ideas from around the world, all very carefully thought out and well presented.  Urban Splash are to be congratulated. A combination of the best will result in something to put Weston on the map for the future. To North Somerset Council I say please make it happen! What a contrast with the proposed 'T-word' development...

10/12/2007, 8:07 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment?  Anonymous wrote: I went to the exhibition of design entries at the Winter Gardens this week and was absolutely staggered by the number of submissions. The people of Weston should be proud that 95 companies from all over the world thought enough of the project to spend time and money entering the competition. That's the interest and credibility that a company like Urban Splash bring with them, and I think it's exciting. The worst thing would be a same old same old redevelopment that lacks flair, imagination and an eye to the future. You can get that anywhere. What Weston needs is something original. The designs I saw this week certainly were original.

11/12/2007, 6:57 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? I think the redevelopment of Birnbeck Pier should be for music and concerts. I would like to see the Pier brought back to its former glory,not with a futuristic design.....Clevedon Pier is a prime example! I remember as a child the original pier,and it would be great to see it restored to its former glory,and used for music and concerts...which could be performed in the open air on a warm summer night, or under cover in bad weather,and during the winter months. Finally,it is great to see so many from all over the World showing interest in the redevelopment...Weston is my most favourite place in the country,and it should have the best possible! Martin Pearce........from Bristol

12/12/2007, 12:13 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? Looks interesting. For those not familiar with the current condition of this wonderful pier take a look at: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15203 (note to forum moderator - hope its OK to post links, but this seems very relevent) GB

16/12/2007, 5:50 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? i have read and seen the new idea/plans for the birneck pier, i think the plan,s are great but it is difficult to choose the right one, but the choice will be left up to the town councl and the people of weston so lets put the super back in to weston SUPER mare

18/12/2007, 1:41 PM B. Williams Joined on 18/12/2007 Posts 1 Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? If Birnbeck Pier ever gets regenerated, then it will be flats, flats and more flats, and not much else !. To provide vehicle access to the island will cost a fortune. If an island resident becomes ill, they might need an ambulance (weight 2 tons) or heaven forbid a fire engine is needed (weight 7 to 10 tons, depending on type). This means that the new pier will have to be a very substantial and thus expensive structure. In order to ensure a good return on capital employed, nothing other than loads of flats will satisfy the developers, and remember, that's what they are, developers.   If there is only pedestrian access to the island's flats, then I wouldn't want to have to carry heavy shopping bags 350 yards plus in the rain!. Finally, in my opinion, Birnbeck Pier should be renovated as per Clevdon Pier.  There are more than enough people in Weston and its environs to sponsor a plank of wood, a seat, a lampost, a section of railings, etc and local companies could be approached to sponsor 'like for like' replacement pier legs.  The buildings could be used as a tearoom, restaurant, small museum of Weston and the Bristol Channel with continous film/photo display.  All it needs are some active volunteers with initiative. Realistically though, Birnbeck will end up with loads of flats, expensive ones at that, and if the local authority do not agree to the high density of flats, I see the developers walking away, and letting Birnbeck fall into the sea. B. Williams, South Wales, regular visitor to Weston for nearly 50 years.     Report

02/01/2008, 1:42 PM mike Joined on 31/12/2007 falmouth Posts 2 Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? Having read and looked at the many planned ideas for Birnbeck Island who, at the end of the day wants to come to live on an island with brown muddy water rushing by upto 4 times a day, 2 up the channel ,then 2 out carrying the rubbish of the Severn with it.  Put the place back to what it was a place where people could enjoy a stroll along the pier take  morning coffee then afternoon tea, and other refreshments being available. I have seen pictures of the Old Pier in it's heyday with the ferry from Penarth at the jetty. Now there is an idea!!! M Mayer Yeah I lived in Weston USED to be proud now I feel ashamed    Report

14/01/2008, 8:21 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? I  AGREE WITH YOU M.MAYER, I AM AN EX WESTOINIAN. WHO NEEDS  HOUSING  ALONG  BIRNECK PIER ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO THE TOWN COUNCIL IS  (BAH HUMBUG)

25/01/2008, 11:25 AM Mayday Joined on 24/01/2008 Posts 32 Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? Birnbeck would be an ideal site for the Weston town council.  They could then carry on their business, as they do now, in their own remote little world - away from reality... Then as the councillors will have a interest close to home, the building work would begin, rather than continue with more years of dithering with regard to the future of the pier.    Report

13/08/2008, 10:50 AM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? Further to my post of 18/12/2007.  I think the Local Authority should now put their thinking caps on, and prepare "plan B" for Birnbeck.  In view of the "Credit Crunch" slowdown on housing, also the tragic fire at Grand Pier, there is a probability that the cost of obtaining a Fire Certificate will be too great for the developers to contemplate going much further. Now might be the best time for Birnbeck to be brought back into use as per Clevedon Pier.

13/08/2008, 11:56 AM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? "Plan B"? God, I thought we'd at least be on plan K or L by now... The truth is, it doesn't really matter all that much what goes there, as long as it's something which Weston doesn't already have (something like a music venue or casino would draw in trade and custom, certainly) and as long as it's something which everyone can use (in other words - not more houses). But it's all pie in the sky. I've been waiting virtually my whole lifetime for something to be done here, and guess what? I'm still waiting...

13/08/2008, 4:55 PM The Green Knight Joined on 23/02/2008 Weston-super-Mare Posts 57 Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? We certainly should be looking to bolster Weston's attraction with a top flight attraction such as Birnbeck but decisions regarding it's planned development have been passed and we await the start of work. To start trying to chnage plans now would leave us with another delayed development being shunted from planning pllar to public consultation post. Do we need another Tropicana fiasco? Like the other Pier, this is a PRIVATE venture and not a public facility so the developers can do pretty much whatever they want providing it gets planning permission. Urban Splash own the birnbeck pier and I personally have more faith in a private venture than any council lead operation. There is a nested interest from Weston residents because it will effect them but that will only be listened to because of the type of developer being used is very local community biased. Any large investment firm will know that the best time to invest your money is when the market is low, so you can buy cheap and will be in at the start of the recovery. I hope the birnbeck is built just how they originally decided, not compromised to meet some hand wringing accountants fears. A cut price building will reflect a cut price job and a cut price Weston. The Green Knight    Report

13/08/2008, 7:29 PM C-Frost Re: What do you think should be the top priority for Birnbeck's redevelopment? I vote for Pleasure Holme, but only if something pleasurable happens there. Failing that, I abstain.

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