Madeira Terrace: community group concerned by little progress

Save Madeira Terraces aims to keep the Grade II* listed structure on Brighton seafront at the “forefront of everybody’s mind”.

The group has held raffles to raise money towards the 132-year-old structure’s restoration as well as clean-ups along its 865 metre length.

It also crowdfunded £463,000 in 2017, which it hoped would go towards three of the 152 arches and prove to be a model for what the future remaining arches could look like.

• READ MORE: Fears Madeira Terrace will 'become another West Pier' as restoration delayed until 2023

But one of the founders is concerned the structure could fall into such disrepair that it needs to be demolished or completely replaced with a new structure.

Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said in a council meeting at the beginning of the month that work on Madeira Terrace would not start until 2023.

A planning application for phase one of the project is not expected to be submitted until the spring this year, which would be approved by autumn. However teams are looking at preparatory works before the main contractor starts on the first 41 of the structure's 151 arches.

The structure has been fenced off since 2012

The council said it was committed to restoring Madeira Terrace and "working hard to achieve this".

Phase one will see specialist contractors tackle a quarter of the whole terrace to the west of the Royal Crescent steps, near Concorde 2.

Jax Atkins, who helped start the group, said the situation was frustrating and she hoped the council could “pull together” to save the historic Victorian structure.

She said: “It’s a mess and every time they say something like work will start, there is always a delay. We have always foreseen this happening.

Derek Wright and Jax Atkins have both done lots of campaigning as part of the Save Madeira Terraces group

“It has been severe frustration for us really. Most people who have been involved in the Save Madeira Terrace group have been working closely with the project and seen what’s going on.

“It feels like nothing has moved forward in any way whatsoever. There has been lots of consultation but no decisions made and no planning permission granted. It goes on and on.

“Madeira Terrace is extremely important, part of our heritage. There are a few places in Brighton that are very important to keep and I think Madeira Terrace is number one. Some people might say the Royal Pavilion but I would say this.”

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A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “As Madeira Terrace is a historic Grade II* listed structure, it’s a complex restoration project that needs specialists involved to safeguard its heritage.

“We want to ensure that what we do is sustainable, and protects the terrace for generations to come.

“There is no quick fix. We’ve engaged with contractors to understand who has the specialist skills to deliver the project.

The application for 41 of the arches should be submitted by Spring this year

“Their feedback has made clear that a more extensive, ‘two-step’ procurement process will be needed to attract the right bids, stay cost effective and enable the contractors to start the works.

“We have an agreed plan for creating extra parking spaces to compensate for the ones that will be lost. Issues around parking have not held up the project.

“The project to restore Madeira Terrace is clearly an enormous task. The team are working to a carefully developed timetable to deliver results as soon as possible so the restoration will last for the longest possible time.

“But with support from residents and community groups we know we can do it.”

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