Lifeboat Station FOR SALE - spacious boathouse with easy walkway access, enjoying picturesque views of Tenby and its surroundings.

The RNLI are looking into the possibility of taking an advertisement out in the property papers and putting Tenby's old lifeboat station on the market, following a recent decision by the Welsh Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing not to grant the organisation permission to demolish the structure.

The RNLI had submitted an application proposing that the old boathouse, slipway and access walkway be demolished, as it had become redundant with no justifiable need to retain the building following the construction of the new state-of-the-art lifeboat station, which it sits alongside at Castle Hill.

The application was called-in for a decision by the National Assembly for Wales by a direction made under a section of the 'planning act' - dealing with listed buildings and conservation areas.

At a recent hearing held in Tenby, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority gave their backing to the proposals to demolish the old station, often described as the 'most photographed tin shed in Wales'.

"The structure was built for the specific purpose of launching lifeboats. Its replacement was essential to accommodate a new larger lifeboat, and it is clearly not practical to continue to use it for its original purpose," they stated.

"Whilst it is considered that the loss of the old lifeboat station would be regrettable, demolition would be justified when considered against the criteria set out in the JUDP.

"The local community also appears to have accepted the loss of the old station," they continued, warning that the building, if left, was likely to deteriorate very quickly through lack of maintenance, which would be highly undesirable for the character and appearance of the area.

However, ruling on the hearing, the minister agreed with the inspector's assessment that the old lifeboat station's architectural detail, fittings and equipment were of architectural and historic interest and that its loss would cause considerable harm to the national heritage.

The minister also concurred with the inspector's conclusion that in the absence of a formal marketing exercise, it could not be accepted that all reasonable efforts had been made to find viable new uses for the building, overall agreeing with the inspector's verdict that the demolition had not been fully justified and would conflict with national planning policy and circular guidance.

A spokesperson for the RNLI confirmed this week that the organisation would be looking into ways of marketing the sale of the old station.

"We will be starting work with estate agents soon to actively market Tenby's old lifeboat station, so hopefully we can find a solution that suits all parties involved and one that works for everyone. We hope to have further updates on this matter very soon," said the spokesperson.