A petition calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to restore the historic Madeira lift had 677 verified signatures on 10 November 2026. It is about the Victorian lift tower, which is separate from the new lift at Madeira Terrace.
The petition, titled Restore the Madeira lift to its former glory, was started on Change.org by Rebecca Bunker on 7 October 2026 and is addressed to the council. It says the lift has fallen into disrepair and been neglected.
What the petition asks for
The promise it points to: The petition says that when the advisory panel for the Madeira Arches restoration met, the council promised the lift would be restored later, with an accessible lift built first.
The worry it raises: It says recent indications suggest the lift may never be restored, and argues that the lift is part of the city's heritage and seafront identity.
The request: It asks the council to prioritise restoring the lift as part of the wider Madeira Arches project by allocating funds, engaging restoration experts and setting a timeline.
The new lift is a separate lift
The restoration of Madeira Terrace includes a new, fully accessible lift. It is a different structure from the historic lift in the petition. A photo taken on 22 August 2026 shows the new brick lift tower standing, with hoardings and scaffolding around the works.
When it announced its £750,000 grant, Historic England said Phase 1 of the restoration would restore 28 of the 151 ornate arches and bays and install the new lift. The terrace is Grade II* listed, was upgraded from Grade II in March 2020, and is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register.
The council's planning report for Phase 1 (application BH2022/02577) covered both lifts. Alongside the new full height lift, it proposed general repairs to the existing Shelter Hall lift structure and an upgrade to its lift car and doors. The report says a new car, mechanism and doors would let the historic lift operate year-round without being staffed.
A rare lift
The report's heritage assessment describes the three-stage Madeira Lift as an early and rare example of a hydraulic, water-powered lift, later converted to electric power, in a seaside location. It records the Shelter Hall lift tower as not in use at the time of the application.
The conditions recommended in the report required a general condition survey of the Shelter Hall lift, and details of its new lift car interior and hydraulic system, to be approved before any restoration or repair works to it could take place.
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