Southampton City Council should consider redeveloping the Royal Pier, which has been left to become an eyesore for over 40 years.

The site was originally shut in 1980 by the British Transport Docks Board (now ABP), who described it as “economically unviable”, despite the fact that it once attracted large crowds to the area for decades and was a fundamental part of the city.

Now, you wouldn’t even know that this crucial site ever existed at all.

I graduated from Solent University recently, and it took me over a year to realise that the piece of wood just about hanging onto life next to Mayflower Park (once researched) was actually a properly functioning pier.

The Royal Pier has great potential!

This is such a shame for the people of Southampton and for a place that once harboured the biggest docks in the world and is contending to be the UK City of Culture 2025.

Southampton reeks of history in a good way, and it shouldn’t be overlooked but retained. The Royal Pier makes up Southampton’s core identity as a waterfront city, but it seems the council couldn’t care less about erasing it from local folklore.

The council is happy to unleash plans for £200 million worth of Town Quay waterfront developments, including a new five-star hotel, but not restore a crucial part of its identity, which is literally—right now—sinking into oblivion!

Southampton City Council could work with ABP and HGP Architects, who are responsible for the new Town Quay development ideas, and include redesigning the Royal Pier as part of the project.

This would allow Southampton to grow in its identity and reputation while also remembering its past culture and heritage. This is not impossible but critical.

History’s watching!

Liam Harding
Basingstoke