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With the remains of Brighton’s magnificent West Pier now doomed to slowly rust away into the English Channel, the West Pier Trust<\/a> have lent their support to what they believe is an ‘appropriate successor to the historic West Pier.’<\/p>\n This comes in the the shape of the i360, a tall observation tower with a passenger pod that rises 150m above sea level to offer dramatic views of the area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The tower with the remains of the West Pier in the foreground. The building seems to follow Brighton;s tradition for quirky architecture and novelties – check out this feature on Volk’s utterly\u00a0bizarre\u00a0Sea Railway<\/a> that was built in the late Victorian period.<\/p>\n Taller than the London Eye<\/strong><\/p>\n At 175 metres high, and with an observation pod rising to 141 metres, the i360 will be Britain’s highest observation tower outside London, with\u00a0a shop and hospitality suite and a cafe\/restaurant catering for up to 400 people built at the base.<\/p>\n (*promo video has been removed)<\/p>\n The ‘Brighton Eye’<\/strong><\/p>\n The brainchild of Marks Barfield, the team behind the London Eye, the i360 has received\u00a0enthusiastic\u00a0support from\u00a0Glynn Jones, Chair of the Brighton West Pier Trust:<\/p>\n We believe that the Brighton i360 \u2013 a ‘vertical pier’ \u2013 is entirely in the spirit of the original pier’s history and the best option to replicate its success and ethos<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Not universally popular<\/strong><\/p>\n Commentators on YouTube<\/a> have been less enthusiastic, however:<\/p>\n I think it looks like an eyesore to be honest…I’d much rather have the west pier back than this<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is all about money, yet another unimaginative assault on Brighton & Hove’s splendid regency seafront. Like most modern architecture, it bears no relation to its environment and looks like an alien spaceship.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Pointless and ugly. Erect a giant dildo with a cock-ring why don’t you?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Expected in 2013. Possibly<\/strong><\/p>\n The i360 team say that, “significant private funding is in place and a big investment has already been made,” adding:<\/p>\n We will start full construction as soon as the balance of the funding, which we are currently seeking, is in place. Naming rights and sponsorship opportunities are currently available.<\/p>\n We expect the i360 to be operational in 2013.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Find out more here: www.brightoni360.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Update May 2013:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Two years on and there’s no sign at all of work starting on the tower. The\u00a0completion\u00a0date has now been pushed back to 2015, but I wouldn’t like to take bets on that. Read more in this May 2013\u00a0feature<\/a>.<\/p>\n More about the West Pier:<\/strong><\/p>\n Part one:<\/strong> The glorious heyday and fall from grace<\/a>![\"Remembering](\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/brighton-west-pier-34.jpg\")
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\nPart two<\/strong>:\u00a0Further decline and a collapse into the sea<\/a>
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