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Brighton's i360 tower is on track for Olympics opening

2:00pm Saturday 6th June 2009 in


The firm of architects behind the Brighton i360 observation tower have admitted another £20 million is needed to finish the project but say it will be completed.

David Marks, whose firm Marks Barfield is behind the design and financing of the ambitious West Pier development, has said the aim is to open the attraction before the 2012 London Olympics.

Speaking to The Argus he said: “We are not in a position to announce a start date or a completion date.

“Our position is we hope to open the attraction in 2011 so that we are well in time for the Olympics, which for us is a milestone date.

“It's very much a live project. Because of the difficulties in the credit market, we have been unable to complete our funding so the project has been slowed down as a result.

“It hasn't stopped but it's on a slowdown.”

Funding problems have beset the £40 million iconic tower, which when completed will be 150 metres tall, soon after its construction was first announced in 2006.

Building was due to start in July 2007 but the global collapse in available credit has seen its construction pushed back and back.

In October last year The Argus reported that work had started on manufacturing the steelwork for the tower in Holland.

Since then some work has taken place at its site at the coast end of the West Pier but the steel remains on the continent.

Mr Marks said it will stay there until the company decides to “proceed on to the next stage”.

He said: “We remain committed to it as we have always been. We are about 50% there with the funding with £20 million to find.

“From everyone's point of view it's extremely exciting. This project is going to bring the benefits of regeneration and bring visitors to Brighton.

“It's going to create jobs and regenerate this part of the seafront.

“This is an ideal project and it's an ideal time to build it. It would send a positive message to the market to build as something as positive as the i360 in Brighton today.

“The city needs to deliver positive messages at this time.”

Comments(16)

pyrococcal says...
2:09pm Sat 6 Jun 09

How can it be on track if they haven't announced any start or completion dates?!?

We all know it will blow over at the first storm anyways.

A 360 degree FAIL.

Security word: WIND-FEAR

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Jim BB says...
2:19pm Sat 6 Jun 09

£20m short and no idea when they'll finish it, suggesting no organisational skills.

Will he be entering The Apprentice next year?

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Granny says...
2:20pm Sat 6 Jun 09

What a complete waste of money! As if one tower is going to tart up and regenerate the area. Words (clean ones) cannot describe what I really feel and as pyrococcal says, it will be goodbye when the first storms blow.

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jyan says...
2:35pm Sat 6 Jun 09

If they want to create more jobs then getting the steelwork made in the UK rather than Holland would be a good start.

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jonathon says...
2:51pm Sat 6 Jun 09

A complete waste of money. Could the people who petitioned to stop Tescos in London now more their efforts to this rubbish.

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PETE OF QUEENS PARK says...
2:57pm Sat 6 Jun 09

They can always stick some sails on it,if ever its built to get a bit of finance, but I will believe it when I see it, like the ice rink and the new Brighton centre we've been told will be built and it looks like the London road regeneration scheme will also be put on the pile of promises

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Osama bin there says...
4:21pm Sat 6 Jun 09

I think it would be great.... if it ever gets built. We need something new in this city.
But I'm not holding my breath. Maybe that geezer who rescued the football club would like to have a punt. He's more likely to get his money back on this than with the Albion.

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Brigadier Monty says...
5:09pm Sat 6 Jun 09

It would be really good for the city. I myself would love to see it happen. The photos you'd get of Brighton and the surrounding areas would be glorius

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MarcoPolo says...
5:18pm Sat 6 Jun 09

Tower of Babel - clearly all talk

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yorkie44 says...
6:10pm Sat 6 Jun 09

How can anybody take what this company says seriously. The site is now just a mess surrounded by hoardings and dangerous structure signs. What is the point of it anyway? There is nothing to see from the top of the tower except the sea - going out on a boat is a better experience. As for a view just go up to Devils Dyke.

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Masterchav says...
6:11pm Sat 6 Jun 09

I can see it now...

£10 per person to go up in an dodgy lift and spend 5 minutes looking out on a load of mist, sea, and crack alley. Excellent value for money and a day out for the whole family!

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freewheelingdom says...
6:43pm Sat 6 Jun 09

I moved to Brighton and Hove 24 years ago and for that 24 years the West Peer has been in the paper every week. And now the West Peer is gone, they still print articles on that old hunk of rust. As to a tower; £20 million, isn't there a recession on?

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stickman says...
8:31pm Sat 6 Jun 09

You have been reading the word every week for 24 years and you still spelt it wrong.

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Shabba Wanks says...
8:59pm Sat 6 Jun 09

Oi Freewheelingdom, Isn't the West Peer a bloke who sits on the left of the house of Lords?

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bug eye says...
11:49pm Sat 6 Jun 09

BOring now, was excited when promised would be with us by 2009 then 2010 now 2011, just showing yourselves up as incompetent fools. another king alfred fiasco. this could be a money making machine but no one has the bal*s to put their money where their mouth is to the further embarassment of this fading city. wheres ted kembles comments\?

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alfieconnection says...
6:40pm Sun 7 Jun 09

great news, get it built, then that dinlo woman from whitehawk will be able to see the ufos more clearly

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