New lighting tested at Madeira Terrace in Brighton

Brighton and Hove City Council has been undertaking work to restore a section of the Madeira Terrace on Brighton seafront.

The work will see 28 of the arches between the Royal Crescent steps and Concorde 2 restored, as well as the installation of a new lift and full replacement of the upper deck.

Construction began at the site in November 2024 and is described by the council as one of its "most ambitious and technical engineering projects”.

Work looks to restore 28 of the arches along Brighton seafront (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

At the end of February, it was announced that work on the new lift was at an “advanced stage”, moving the project a step closer to completion.

The lift will provide residents and visitors step-free access to and from Madeira Drive.

In the most recent update, Brighton and Hove City Council shared images of new lighting being tested at the site, ahead of its installation.

The project has reused a large amount of the original structural cast iron, which was sent away for testing and repair before being returned.

Engineers needed to prove the cast iron was safe to reuse and could support the terrace’s weight. The first tests were inconclusive, so more checks were needed. A second set of results confirmed much of the original ironwork was strong enough to reuse.

The council have tested new lighting before it's set to be installed (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

Speaking about the public interest in the project, Councillor Julie Cattell 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.”

Madeira Terrace is an 865m covered walkway that was built between 1890 and 1897, thought to be the longest continuous cast-iron structure in Britain.

The terrace has been closed to the public since 2012 after the structure deteriorated and was deemed unsafe.

The council said work on the restoration project is expected to finish this winter.