Support For New Sandown Lifeboat Station To Replace ‘Unfit’ Building

Plans to replace the Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat Station, described as “no longer fit for purpose,” have received backing from Sandown Town Council.

The Island charity has applied for planning permission to demolish its existing station on Sandown’s Western Esplanade and build a new, resilient two-storey base in its place.

In its planning statement, the volunteer-run service said the current building has become structurally unsound after years of exposure to harsh coastal conditions.

The proposed replacement would modernise facilities, secure the lifeboat’s long-term future, and ensure continuity of vital life-saving operations.

Sandown Town Council said it fully supports the plans, describing the new design as “sympathetic to the local character and coastal setting” and an improvement on the existing structure.

A council spokesperson added:

“The lifeboat station will enhance maritime safety and emergency response capabilities.

"As climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, the new building needs to be robust and able to withstand storms.”

Public consultation on the application (25/01441/FUL) runs until November 7, with a decision expected on November 26.