Plans for the restoration of Mumbles Pier, together with the construction of a RNLI lifeboat station, have been given the green light by Swansea Council.

The proposals, which are linked to another application for a major leisure-led redevelopment of Mumbles headland and foreshore, will see the current pier deck and railings refurbished. It is hoped that work will start on the scheme in spring 2012 and will take around 20 months to complete, with the main pier works to be carried out between April and September 2013.

A report put before Swansea Council's planning and petitions committee said: "The pier is a nationally and locally important historic structure, however, it is currently recognised as being 'at risk' as its structural condition deteriorates. "While some historic features of the pier, such as the steel latticework will be lost, the replacement fabric will maintain the character of the pier, and in doing so would secure its long term future."