Architecture student inspired by fish’n’chips and tea rooms scoops first prize for ’quintessentially British’ pier at New Brighton

A pier with a fish’n’chips shop and tea room has won a student competition for New Brighton, Liverpool, organised by environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning.

Michael Otchie, an architecture student at the University of Liverpool, came up with the winning concept for a pier at New Brighton beach in Merseyside. He said he was inspired by two “quintessential British institutions”, the fish’n’chip shop and the tea room. The design would make use of ship-building technologies to reflect Liverpool’s maritime history, and the student architect said it could be built for £2m.

Royal Haskoning Liverpool organised the design competition, which had a first prize of £1,000, as part of Liverpool’s Year of European Capital of Culture.

David Ricketts, director of building and infrastructure, said: “The competition has given us a fascinating insight into how the next generation of architects and planners view the New Brighton of today.”I am sure the ideas from our talented entrants will give a lot of food for thought when any future waterside projects for New Brighton are being considered.”

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