A fully accessible seafront lift which will provide residents and visitors with access to and from Madeira Drive from Marina Parade is taking shape, as the restoration of Madeira Terrace continues.
The project, which began on site in November 2024, is one of the most ambitious and technical engineering projects Brighton & Hove City Council has undertaken.
A key component in the first phase is the installation of the lift and work on that element is at an advanced stage, with scaffolding now in place around the internal structure. The next step will be to start installing a brick ‘skin’ around the structure, made up of more than 20,000 bricks.
Elsewhere on the site, the first sections of large cast-iron have returned, with the team behind the restoration currently trialling different methods for rebuilding the century-old structure.
Earlier this year, sections of the cast iron structure were sent to a specialist foundry for testing and repair, with the testing element vital in proving that the structural cast iron could be successfully repaired and reused to hold the weight of the terrace.
A first round of tests was inconclusive, meaning additional cast iron testing was required. The data from that second round of testing confirmed that much of the original structural cast iron could be reused.
As a heritage-led restoration project, this ability to reuse existing materials is considered key; it will also help the council significantly limit the environmental impact of the scheme.
As the testing has progressed it’s given a clearer idea of the timelines for completion of the first phase of restoration. The work is now expected to be finished this coming winter.
Residents, local businesses and other stakeholders were given an update on progress this week at the latest community engagement event, which took place at nearby Sea Lanes Brighton.
Councillor Julie Cattell, lead member for major projects, is delighted to see the continued interest in the project.
She said: “We’re moving forward with very visible and eye-catching elements of the restoration, and I know residents and visitors are enjoying seeing the structure take shape. There has been huge interest in the work being done to create the lift and residents will continue to see real progress being made over the coming months.
“It is great that so many people are really captivated and engaged in this project – and have such goodwill towards the work being done.
“We know Madeira Terrace is a vital part of our city’s architectural heritage and is something people really care about. That is partly why we are taking a firm, heritage-led approach. Restoring the existing structure does take more time than simply replacing it – particularly with the testing required – but it is the correct approach.
“We’re determined to get this restoration right – and see Madeira Terrace once again become a thriving and important part of our iconic seafront.”
