Save Dunoon Pier - Heritage & Environmental Assessment

Description

Dunoon Community Development Trust, acting on behalf of the Save Dunoon Pier Working Group and working in partnership with the Pier owner, Argyll & Bute Council, is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified consultant or team to undertake a high-level heritage preservation and environmental impact assessment, including SEPA consultation for flooding policy content. This work will support a feasibility study into the potential redevelopment of Dunoon Pier and surrounding area and help to ensure that the proposed restoration of Dunoon Pier aligns with best practice in heritage preservation and environmental sustainability. This assessment will consider regulatory compliance, conservation integrity, and long-term climate resilience. Lot 1: Background Dunoon Pier is a rare and iconic category A listed example of a traditional Victorian timber pier, first constructed in the 1830s and later extended and rebuilt in the 1860s and 1890s. It quickly became a critical piece of infrastructure for Dunoon, serving as a key entry point for passengers arriving by steamer and ferry into the town. For decades, the pier was a focal point of the town’s tourism industry, welcoming thousands of visitors each summer and contributing to Dunoon’s development as one of Scotland’s most popular seaside resorts during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The structure includes ornate timber buildings with heritage features that reflect Dunoon’s prosperous maritime and leisure history. Although a portion of the pier was restored in 2015, it has remained vacant since and has had no real commercial prospect in the way it is currently presented to the market. As a result, even the refurbished section of the structure remains unused, highlighting the need for a more strategic and sustainable approach to securing a future for the pier. Despite its decline, the pier continues to hold deep sentimental and cultural significance to the community as a visual landmark and symbol of Dunoon’s heritage. It remains one of the first things people see upon arriving in Dunoon and is the last remaining Victorian timber pier in Scotland, making its preservation of national historic interest. Its restoration represents not just a heritage conservation effort, but a wider ambition to revitalise Dunoon and reconnect the community with its waterfront legacy. The goal of the Dunoon Pier restoration project is to revitalise the pier as a vibrant, functional community and tourism asset for Dunoon. Our vision is to create a multipurpose space that will serve both local residents and visitors, while ensuring long-term commercial sustainability of the Pier. Once restored, we’d like for the pier to house a range of facilities, including leisure areas, cafes, shops, and potentially an adjoining marina, providing recreational spaces and local economic opportunities, all of which will be considered with our feasibility study. The pier will also be a point of education and engagement, with historical and cultural elements highlighting the pier's significance to Dunoon's heritage embedded throughout the project. Scope of Work - detailed description The purpose of this commission is to produce a concise, high-level heritage and environmental impact review to ensure that the proposed restoration of Dunoon Pier aligns with best practice in heritage preservation and environmental sustainability. This assessment will consider regulatory compliance, conservation integrity, and long-term climate resilience, with particular focus on sea-level forecasts and SEPA defined flooding risks. The high-level heritage and environmental impact review will assess how proposed restoration options align with conservation best practices and environmental sustainability. This work will also help identify any regulatory and planning considerations early in the process. The outputs will inform the development of a Business Case and support future funding applications. The study should be proportionate to the feasibility stage and based on existing data and relevant comparators. Deliverables A short, high-quality written report in draft (maximum 15 pages) suitable for inclusion in a wider feasibility study, which will support future capital investment applications. Allowance for 1 revision following client review and feedback should be included. The consultant / team will be expected to work collaboratively with the project team and engage constructively with the steering group project leads. A public engagement event is planned for Sat 6th September 2025 to be held on Dunoon Pier. Allowance for attendance at this event may be beneficial, however there is no expectation for publicly presenting at this mid-appointment stage.. For information on scoring criteria, please refer to the Criteria and Scoring Matrix document available with this notice. Information about Dunoon pier can be viewed here: https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505:300:::::VIEWTYPE,VIEWREF:designation,LB26450