RESIDENTS were excited to see building work at a historic set of arches.

Building materials were seen at the historic Madeira Terrace arches on Brighton seafront amid plans to restore the area.

In June Brighton and Hove City Council announced it would look to “appoint a design and engineering team to work on the design phase of the Madeira Terrace project”.

But one resident thought work must have started early when they saw equipment including bricks, diggers and scaffolding underneath the seafront structure.

He contacted The Argus saying he hoped it was the start of the redevelopment of the area.

A council spokeswoman said the work was being done as “propping work” to “provide structural support to some of the defective beams” following a structural inspection.

She said work included “the propping of seven lattice beams, the replacement of hardwood packers, the removal of gutters, crack repairs to masonry piers, concrete repairs, the removal of corroded light fittings and brackets and the installation of warning signs”.

In December 2018 an unsuccessful bid was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the Madeira Terrace restoration.

But several successful crowdfunding events towards the project in recent years have “expressed the public’s desire to restore the Madeira Terrace to their former glory” according to former council leader Dan Yates.