Work set to begin on a new RNLI lifeboat station in Anstruther

Phase one of the project, commencing on 21 July, will largely consist of enabling works in and around the current lifeboat station compound, with little to no impact on car parking. This is expected to last for two weeks and, once completed, the east section of the car park will be closed, reducing the number of spaces from 54 to 20 to allow for the next phase of the project to begin.

Our shuttle bus park and ride service will also start on 21 July, running daily through the summer, providing 50 additional spaces at our temporary car park near to the Cooperative Supermarket.

In April, the RNLI and Fife Council met with local businesses to discuss the project and have worked collaboratively since then on the phasing of the planned works to minimise disruption to the East Basin Car Park, maintain public access to the beach and make provisions for visiting tour buses.

Phase two involves work carried out in the water to build the launch ramp and sea wall. With the safety of the workforce paramount, it is crucial this is work is carried out as soon as possible. Undertaking this type of construction during the winter months, with reduced daylight hours and an increased likelihood of adverse weather, would pose unacceptable safety challenges to the construction team, as well as prolonging the build time and significantly increasing cost.

The current lifeboat station has been home to the RNLI in Anstruther since 1904 and, following six previous upgrades, it is no longer fit for purpose. A decision was made jointly by the RNLI and Fife Council to build a new lifeboat station further along the shore, with planning permission granted in 2020. Building a new station while the old one is still operating will allow our vital lifesaving service to be maintained for the duration of the build without the need for temporary accommodation.

Since entering operational service in August 2024, Anstruther’s Shannon-class lifeboat has launched on service 11 times, averaging a distance of 15 nautical miles from station to casualty. Anstruther is strategically placed to provide essential all-weather lifeboat cover to the RNLI inshore lifeboat stations on the Forth and Fife's North Sea coastline, day and night within 60 minutes, as per RNLI standard operating procedures.

RNLI Operations Lead, Stuart Gudgeon said: ‘We are pleased we have been able to reach agreement with Fife Council about the phasing of the work, and are grateful to local people for their understanding. We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of the construction work and will keep people informed about the progress of the project.

‘The local community has been incredibly generous in supporting the appeal to help fund our new lifeboat station and we hope they will be proud of the building. It will be a significant new landmark in the town and will vastly improve the way our crew are able to operate, providing a permanent home for Anstruther’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.’

Head of Roads and Transportation, John Mitchell, said: ‘We have been working very closely with the RNLI to make sure that the main concerns, which were raised by the community, have been addressed in some way. We fully understand how important tourism and visitors are to the town and we appreciate the impact a development such as this could have on local businesses, during the construction period. However, we also fully appreciate the importance of this project for the RNLI and their need to start work as soon as possible to help ensure the safety of the construction team working in the sea and minimise rising costs.

‘It is appreciated that there will be disruption to the local community, businesses and visitors, however the RNLI have listened to the issues raised by the community and put measures in place to help mitigate the effects of their construction works.’

We are committed to regular meetings with the community throughout the project and RNLI and Fife Council representatives will be available on Wednesday 2 July (13:00 – 20:00) and Thursday 3 July (09:30 – 12:00) for drop-in sessions at Anstruther Lifeboat Station, where information on our project phasing will be available for the community to view.

FAQ

Why is a new lifeboat station required?

The new station is being built to house the cutting-edge Shannon class lifeboat. The Shannon’s superior speed and manoeuvrability will allow the RNLI crew to respond to emergencies in half the time, covering a larger stretch of coastline and offering greater protection to local fishermen, visitors, and seafarers. There is no room to expand the current lifeboat station further without the acquisition of surrounding land. A decision was made jointly by the RNLI and Fife Council to build a new lifeboat station further along the shore.

Why can the lifeboat not lie afloat?

The RNLI operates a 24/7, 365 days a year search and rescue service. Housing the lifeboat ashore in the lifeboat station - as the charity has done in Anstruther since 1904 - allows the lifeboat to launch at any state of the tide. This means that when emergency calls come in at low water, the volunteer crew can rescue those in need.

Why can you not expand the current station?

All options were considered, including a redevelopment of the current building, but the new launch vehicle cannot operate from that site due to manoeuvring constraints. The most feasible option for both Fife Council and the RNLI was to build a new station along the shore, opposite the harbour entrance, allowing direct access to the sea. This will also allow for minimal disruption to operational service for the duration of the build.

Why does the RNLI have to be in Anstruther?

Anstruther has had a lifeboat for almost 160 years. The station has 36 operational volunteers who live within a specified area for responding to emergency calls. To move the location of the lifeboat would mean the loss of those valuable volunteers. No stone was left unturned, and consideration was given to neighbouring harbours, including Pittenweem, but due to various factors, Anstruther was and is the only viable option.

What will happen to the old lifeboat station?

A condition of the planning application is that the current lifeboat station will be demolished and replaced with car parking spaces.

Will the East Basin carpark be closed?

Only partially, 20 spaces will be available there throughout the programme of works. 50 Park and Ride spaces will be available in the car park which has been build beside the Co-operative Supermarket.

Where will visitors to the town be able to park?

The RNLI have funded a temporary carpark that will be available for the duration of the works. A park and ride facility will be in operation during peak times throughout the year, such as the school summer holidays and bank holiday weekends. The carpark has been built behind the Cooperative supermarket and is accessed by turning left as you leave Anstruther on the B9131 road to St Andrews.

Where will the coaches drop off and pick up tourists?

Tour buses will still be able to drop off and pick up passengers from any bus stop on East Shore and Shore Street. Having dropped off customers, provision has been made for them to park in specified coach parking spaces, before returning at a pre-agreed pick up location to collect their passengers.

The coach bays at Station Road car park have been reconfigured for this and during school holidays and at weekends Waid Academy will be used as an overflow.

When will the work start on the new station?

Work is due to start on 21 July 2025 and the works will take approximately 18 months to complete.

The first phase of construction involves work carried out in the water to build the launch ramp and sea wall. With the safety of the workforce paramount, it is crucial this is carried out in the summer. Undertaking this type of construction during the winter months, with reduced daylight hours and an increased likelihood of adverse weather, would pose unacceptable safety challenges to the construction team, as well as prolonging the build time and significantly increasing cost.

What about the parking spaces and beach that will be taken as a result?

The RNLI have worked with Fife Council to analyse the impact on parking and a traffic management proposal has been incorporated into the plans. Part of the East Basin car park adjacent to the new station will be closed for the duration of the build but 20 spaces will remain available during the works. A temporary car park with seasonal park and ride facilities will be available in the town.

Public access to the beach will be maintained throughout.

How will the traffic and buses be affected?

The usual service buses will not be affected.

To help minimise disruption, a temporary car park with a seasonal park and ride facility will be in operation for the duration of the build. Tour buses will still be able to drop off and pick up passengers from any bus stop on East Shore and Shore Street. Having dropped off customers, provision has been made for them to park in specified coach parking spaces, before returning at a pre-agreed pick up location to collect their passengers. The coach bays at Station Road car park have been reconfigured for this and during school holidays and at weekends Waid Academy will be used as an overflow.

Will on street parking near the site be used by those working on the new lifeboat station?

No. The RNLI have an agreement with the building contractor that those in the town working on the new lifeboat station will not use on-street parking and will instead use the temporary car park.

When will the park and ride service be in operation?

From Monday 21 July, a bus will run daily, during peak times, to transfer visitors and locals from the temporary car park to the harbour area throughout the day:  

• Peak: June, July and August – 10am-6pm daily. 

• October half-term and Christmas holidays – 10am to 4pm daily. 

• Mid-season: April (excluding Easter holidays) and May - 10am - 4pm daily.

• Easter 2026 – 10am – 6pm daily. 

• Off-peak – Weekends, 10am-4pm  

Will you still be able to access the East Pier?

Access to east pier will be restricted for the duration of the build but the pier will fully reopen as soon as work on the new station is complete. The new lifeboat slipway will run parallel with the east pier but will not be fixed to it.

Will there still be access to the East Basin beach by the lifeboat station?

There will be access to the beach at East Basin, but part of the beach will be closed to allow work on the new launch ramp. Access to Castle Street beach will be unaffected.

What consultation took place on this?

The planning application, agreed in 2020, incorporates the full assessment of the proposal and considers all the appropriate issues in terms of planning legislation.

The conditions attached to the planning consent are designed to address, as far as reasonably possible, the concerns raised by residents, businesses and the specialist consultees.

For example, the temporary park and ride facility, supported by a free shuttle service, is there to offset the temporary closure of part of the East Basin Car Park. The site and associated compound will not be close to established businesses, nor will it result in any obstructions that could inhibit regular access to them.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.