Takes excessive interest in redeveloping piers (5)
I believe the answer is:
pries
'takes excessive interest' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'redeveloping piers' is the wordplay.
'redeveloping' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'redeveloped' mean this).
'piers' with letters rearranged gives 'PRIES'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pries that I've seen before include "Is intrusively nosy" , "Intrusively enquires" , "Is nosey" , "Snoops" .)