Over the next six months, we will appoint a design and engineering team to work on the design phase of the Madeira Terrace project.
The team will:
- create design options for the first restored arches
- explore potential uses for them
- cost the work involved
A requirement of the contract will be to explore the use of innovative renewable technology such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting, as a priority, in a bid to reduce costs in the long-term and help the city to meet its commitment to achieving a carbon neutral status by 2030.
The condition of the Grade II Listed Madeira Terrace is one of the most challenging heritage issues currently facing the city council. On-going maintenance of the structure is no longer possible due to the level of its deterioration. Some sections of the structure have been closed to the public since 2012.
In 2016, the cost of restoring the whole of Madeira Terrace was estimated at more than £23 million. As the council does not have funds available to meet this cost, the plan has always been to restore the arches in stages.
The council’s successful crowdfunding campaign raised over £460,000 in 2017 when the aim was to restore three arches to use as a showcase. Recent exploration of restoring just three arches and a petition presented by the Save Madeira Terrace Raffle Group has resulted in a re-think of how the crowd funded arches are delivered. Restoring more arches at the same time would provide much better value for money over the long-term.
The council had already set aside £2 million for the Madeira Terrace restoration project and will now allocate £550,000 of that funding for the first phase of work.
An asset for the community and local economy
Councillor Alan Robins said: “Restoring Madeira Terrace is complex but we are committed to bringing this iconic structure back to life.
“It is a big part of our shop window and has so much potential as a draw for visitors, an asset for the community and the local economy.
“The structure is important to so many people in the city and this is a positive and eagerly awaited step forward for the project.”
Community campaigner Jax Atkins has raised over £26,000 through her local raffles. She added: “We’re hoping this will mean we can see some action. It feels like it’s been a long time coming but as long as progress is being made we are fully behind it.
“We want to see the terrace restored with all our hearts. It is an absolute asset for the whole city and with the right backing and management can once again be the centre piece of our beautiful eastern beachfront”.
Jax Atkins is organising a third raffle, anticipated to be the biggest so far. To donate a prize or buy raffle tickets, contact Jax: chemicaljax@ntlworld.com
