PLANS are proposed to redevelop Newquay Lifeboat Station to ensure the facility is better equipped to save lives at sea.

Pre-application advice has been sought to build a small front extension at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in South Quay Hill, which would lengthen the area in which the inland lifeboat is kept — allowing it to always remain hitched for operational readiness.

The RNLI shop located within the same building would be removed as part of the works and repurposed as a crew change area. The steps which access the Fishermen’s Mission next door would need to be moved to the front of the terrace/balcony, or potentially replaced with an access ramp if required.

The pre-application advice states that it is “understood” that the RNLI shop would be relocated to other premises in the town.

Javier Herrador Del Arco, a development officer at Cornwall Council, accepted a front extension would appear to be the “only feasible solution” to address the operational needs as well as the proposed improvements to response times.

He said: “The operational needs and proposed improvements to response times are noted, as well as the ownership, physical constraints which prevent the erection of a rear extension.

“Taking this into account, it is accepted that the proposed forward extension would appear to be at this time the only feasible solution to address these matters subject to negotiations to use the proposed area of land on which the extension would be built.”

Mr Del Arco stated the key issues to address in the determination of any subsequent application would include the impact on the character and appearance of the area, highway safety, and risk of flooding.

He stated: “The pre-application advice seeks clarification as to whether the proposed internal layout rearrangement to provide additional boathouse space in lieu of the existing RNLI shop space would constitute a material change of use for that area of the building.

“In response to this, whilst recognising the planning history of the site and use of the host premises, when considered in conjunction with the primary lifeboat station use, the shop is considered to be incidental or ancillary to the lifeboat station.

“As such, given this use has not grown to such an extent as to become a mixed use together with what was the originally primary use, the proposed use of the shop as additional crew space/lifeboat station provision is not considered to result in a material change of use.

“Similarly important, whilst appreciating the internal layout is equally influenced by several factors, every effort should be made in any subsequent application to ensure the proposed forward extension does not obscure the stone quoins of the opposite gable end (i.e. the current boathouse). This should be set back to ensure the legibility of this aspect of the host building is not adversely affected by the proposal.

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“With respect to the relocation of the access steps, the key consideration would be highway safety. It is understood that this would be of timber construction and respond to current character.”