The RNLI charity has now officially handed Tenby's former lifeboat station to a private individual.
The listed building became surplus to requirements following the erection of a new £5.5M boathouse in 2005, to accommodate the station's new Tamar class lifeboat.
Planning permission to demolish the grade II listed building was refused and the RNLI charity has been left footing the bill of maintaining the seaside structure, whilst alternative uses were sought.
A marketing exercise to find a suitable new owner was launched, in the hope interested parties could persuade Pembrokeshire County Council to offer planning permission to change the use of the 1905 building. Presentations were made by several potential new owners and a variety of schemes assessed. Planners unanimously backed the preferred scheme to turn the 100-year-old former lifeboat station into a unique house.
Howard Richings, Head of Estates Management for the RNLI says:
‘When the new purpose-built boathouse was complete, the old boathouse became redundant, but we were refused permission to demolish following an inspectors' enquiry.
'It concluded that the listed status of the building required further marketing which left us in an incredibly frustrating position. As a charity, the RNLI could not justify ploughing funds into maintaining it, so our only other option was to look for a new owner who could find an alternative use for the building, or prove that there was no suitable alternative use.
'In the event a private buyer has emerged who is able to finance the conversion into a residential dwelling and has obtained planning consent.
‘We are thrilled to have found someone willing to take the liability for this building off our hands which will mean supporters money now goes into its rightful place - saving lives at sea.
'Had no alternative use been found then the RNLI would have had to pay several hundreds of thousands of pounds for the demolition of the old boathouse. We wish the developer all the very best with this new venture and thank all those in Tenby who have supported us during this very protracted process.'
The RNLI was tied into a long lease with the Crown Estates Commissioners, from which it was able to extract itself with the assistance of Savills Wimborne Development Team. The private individual has subsequently obtained the freehold from the Crown Estate Commissioners.
Mike Pennock from Savills Wimborne Development team says:
‘This has been a long process but we have successfully managed to relieve the RNLI from a potentially huge financial tie and enabled valuable funds to be put towards other key aspects within the RNLI.'
Luke Remington from Fine & Country Estate Agents who assisted on the marketing of former lifeboat station locally says:
'Were delighted to have worked alongside the RNLI in the disposure of this iconic landmark and look forward to seeing this exciting project in the near future'.
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