Building work to begin next month for Dart RNLI’s new lifeboat station
The building project to convert Ferry View House into Dart RNLI’s new purpose-built lifeboat station, will begin next month. Site fencing has been erected this week by the appointed contractors, Nevada Construction based in Teignmouth.
The project will see Ferry View House, the original lifeboat station in the 1800s, converted into a purpose-built station with modern facilities for Dart RNLI’s current volunteer crew.
The works will involve demolishing the existing single-storey lean-to structure and building a two-storey extension on a similar footprint. The first floor within the main building, and the roof, will be raised to allow for the safe manoeuvrability of the D-class lifeboat within the boathouse below. The new station will provide modern facilities for the crew to cement the RNLI’s future in Dartmouth and the Dart Estuary for years to come.
The building work is scheduled to begin on 8 July and will take approximately 12 months to complete.
Peter Morgan, RNLI Regional Estates Manager for the south west, said: ‘We’re delighted to see the preparation work begin, ahead of the project starting in a few weeks time. The site fencing has been put up this week, and other enabling works, such as setting up the site welfare facilities, are also taking place in the run up to our start date of July 8th. We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of the local community, particularly the residents who live near the build site, and look forward to seeing the project start in earnest next month.’
Richard Towl, Director of Nevada Construction Limited, said: ‘As a contractor based on the south coast of Devon, we are delighted to be able to work with the RNLI, and to bring the original station building back to life. Whilst delivering this amazing new facility for the crew of the service, we are hoping that our commitment to supporting our communities, and to the relationships with our local supply chain, will be able to deliver additional social value for the area.’
The fundraising appeal to raise £1.2 million for the project, is still running, and has just passed the halfway mark, with an incredible £600,000 already raised. There are plenty of opportunities to support the appeal this summer, including a flag day on 25 July, a summer fete on 8 August and a curry evening on 21 September.
Throughout the summer the Dartmouth RNLI visitor centre will be open to welcome visitors to learn more about the charity’s lifesaving work. Attractions at the centre include a D class lifeboat, where visitors can dress up in lifeboat operations gear and climb into the lifeboat, and a large screen where people can watch real-life RNLI rescue footage. There is also an RNLI shop which stocks an excellent range of unique and competitively priced souvenirs and gifts including homeware, clothing, keyrings, and toys, all to raise vital funds to save lives. The visitor centre is open until 30th October, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, subject to volunteer availability.
For more information on the appeal and to donate visit: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/give-to-a-special-appeal/dart-local-appeal
Notes to editors
An image is attached of what the completed lifeboat station will look like, credit to Studio Four Architects.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or Dart RNLI volunteer press officer, Dom Hart, on 07767 764144 or [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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