Madeira Terrace restoration works start next month
Work to restore 28 arches of Madeira Terrace and to build a new, fully accessible lift, will begin in late November. This will be a historic moment for the city, as the rebirth of this Brighton landmark commences.
This first phase of the restoration of the Victorian Grade II*-listed terraces will include:
• replacement of the original deck with a new, waterproofed and reinforced deck that will retain much of the original detailing
• a new coloured protection system for the cast iron, guaranteed to perform better in coastal conditions than traditional paint systems available to the Victorians
• retention of several of the best Japanese spindle plants that have graced the wall from before the terrace itself
• repairing and reinvigorating other sections of the Green Wall to ensure it comes back greener, more biodiverse and with greater coverage than before, although much of this will take time to recolonise
• a new staircase down from the deck near Concorde 2/Madeira Shelter Hall, and
• the reinstatement of the planted verges at Madeira Drive level.
Councillor Julie Cattell, lead councillor for Major Projects, said:
“The recent grant award of £750,000 from Historic England to supplement the funds already allocated by the council means that the first phase of this long-awaited project can at last commence.
“The restoration of the longest cast-iron structure in the UK will be a highly complex and challenging task. It requires dismantling the cast-iron components of the 28 arches and transporting them to a contractor in the Midlands, which specialises in the refurbishment of historic ironworks.
Investment in the seafront
“This is one of a series of major projects that we are investing in, to make Brighton & Hove seafront the most exciting in the country. It’s a thrilling prospect that in summer 2026 Madeira Terraces’ many dedicated local supporters, our residents and visitors to the city will once more be able to enjoy this iconic piece of our heritage.”
Civil engineering contractor JT Mackley & Co was appointed to undertake Phase 1 of the restoration earlier this month, following a public tender process.
Once on site, they will start to clear rubbish, then go through items to be stored or saved and greenery that needs to be removed to allow the A259 retaining wall to be repaired.
Parking bay temporary closures
To allow the works to proceed safely, parking bays between the Royal Crescent Steps and Concorde 2/Madeira Shelter Hall will be temporarily removed, although the bays to the east and west of this area will remain available. This will enable work to proceed safely, including taking down the concrete deck.
