Forgotten seaside resort now UK's best place to live after £24million new attraction
Share:
A beloved piece of history in one of the UK's favourite seaside cities is getting a multi-million-pound makeover to bring it back to its heyday. The Madeira Terrace is a Grade-II listed cast iron structure that stretches over half a mile along Brighton's seafront. It was originally built as a viewing platform for 19th-century day-trippers from London who arrived via the new railway.
However, in recent years, it has fallen into disrepair due to structural degradation accelerated by its marine environment and plant overgrowth. Brighton and Hove City Council secured planning permission to restore the terrace in 2022, and the first phase of the £24 million project began on November 18. The restoration of this crucial part of Brighton's history, which also happens to be the longest cast iron structure in Britain, is being funded by the council, crowd fundraising, a loan from the Public Works Loan Board, and a £750,000 grant from Historic England.
Brighton, located in East Sussex, is one of the UK's top tourist destinations and frequently ranks among the best places to live in the country. The council hopes to enhance its appeal even further with this new scheme, which it aims to complete by 2026. The initial phase of the restoration project involves refurbishing 28 of the 151 metal arches between the Royal Crescent steps and Madeira Terrace Shelter Hall. This is part of a larger plan to create a "park" along Brighton's eastern seafront, connecting the beach to the Marine Parade apartment complex. As part of this phase, new seating areas and spaces for pop-up events, such as live music and food festivals, will be installed. Additionally, a new, fully accessible lift will be built to connect the walkway to the seafront.
