A GOLDEN spiral of West Pier pillars will form the centrepiece of a new seafront square to be opened this summer.

The artwork made from 24 of the pier’s original cast-iron columns will feature a central plaque commemorating the work and life of pier creator Eugenius Birch.

The promenade space will also be home to a new heritage centre about the West Pier.

Work is currently under way on the development in time for its opening during the height of the tourism season.

The site lies directly east of the i360 on Brighton seafront. Revenue from the i360 is being used by Brighton and Hove City Council to spruce up the area.

The council will borrow £1.4 million from the Government’s Public Works Loans Board, the body that granted £36.2 million for the i360’s construction, with the money being repaid over 25 years from the council’s earnings from the i360.

The council receives income from the i360 through business rates.

The profit on the interest from the loan and the business rates paid by the i360 will earn the council more than £1 million a year for seafront improvements. An additional one per cent of all ticket sales will be used for upgrades for nearby Regency Square and Preston Street.

The space where the new square will be built has been used as a building yard during the construction of the i360, the world’s thinnest tower.

Under the plans, the west of the i360 would become a flexible event space for entertainment, exhibitions and events with permanent seating while the piazza to the east would be used to celebrate the West Pier’s heritage.

Work is also under way to continue the council investment in refurbishing the seafront arches with more to be brought back into use to create six shops and food outlets.

The proposed heritage centre will be housed in one of the pier’s original octagonal kiosk which was built in 1866 and salvaged from the pier in the 1990s.

The West Pier Trust, the i360’s landlord, will begin fundraising for the restoration in the upcoming months.

The new “golden spiral” will feature two quotes selected from Walking On Water, a history of the pier by Fred Gray.

A trust spokeswoman said: “The site’s golden spiral will be constructed from 24 of the pier’s original cast-iron columns and features a central plaque commemorating the work and life of pier creator Eugenius Birch.

“The spiral is based on the golden ratio, a mathematical equation commonly found in nature.

“When used in design, it fosters an organic and natural looking composition that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”