Planning permission granted for new Boathouse

Thursday 28 June 2018

Artist's impression of new boathouse at Wells

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Long awaited planning permission for a new boathouse for Wells lifeboat has been granted today by North Norfolk District Council. The new boathouse will be built close to the existing one by the slipway at the end of the Beach bank. The RNLI submitted the plans to replace the existing building in November 2017.

The new lifeboat station design was conceived to provide the extra space needed to accommodate the new Shannon lifeboat and to upgrade the volunteer crew's facilities to a standard befitting the next generation of lifesavers. Space will also be created within the station to enable greater use by the local community and visitors alike. As well as providing more space for the lifeboats and launching vehicles, there will be improved crew facilities with showers, a drying room, inter-active training areas and conference facilities. The public has always been encouraged to visit the station but will now have the advantage of a more interactive experience with improved viewing areas.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy said, "We're very excited about the plans for the new station, although naturally we'll be sad to say goodbye to the current boathouse. It has a long and distinguished history and it has served us well in providing a base for saving lives at sea."

Wells RNLI Chairman Peter Rainsford said, "We've been working on this project for several years. It is great news for the crew, volunteers and the local community that construction is about to commence."

It is expected that building work will begin in the autumn and will take about eighteen months to complete. The new Shannon Class lifeboat come into service in the spring or summer of 2020.

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