SWANAGE’S historic pier is set to return to its “Victorian splendour” thanks to nearly £894,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding.

The grade II-listed pier was in need of emergency repairs in 2013 following major storm damage that caused parts of the pier to collapse.

A grant of £39,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), coupled with donations from the community, meant the pier was able to re-open after several months.

This latest injection of funding will go towards Swanage Pier Trust’s £1.7m project to completely revamp the pier, as well as build a new visitor centre.

Ben Adeney, chief executive of the pier, said it was “excellent news”.

“We are very pleased that the HLF is supporting this important project. The first pile was driven on the existing Swanage Pier in 1895, making this the 120th anniversary, so what better time could there be to mark this important milestone in the pier’s history, with a big step towards securing its future.”

Plans for the new visitor’s centre involve an exhibition about the town’s heritage, marine environment and world heritage coastline. The trust is also aiming to develop educational activities, including an outdoor classroom.

An HLF spokesperson said: “Over 125,000 people visit the pier each year. We are delighted to be able to support the Swanage Pier Trust in their work to repair the pier, ensuring that it can be preserved for and enjoyed by future generations.”

Mr Adeney added: “This announcement is a major step towards achieving our goal to repair and regenerate the Pier, but we still have some way to go to reach our fundraising target.

"We have several initiatives we are going to be launching over the coming months and would be very grateful for any businesses or members of the community who might like to step forward and support this work.”