Published Date: Mar 27th, 2025
Exciting progress on Anstruther’s new lifeboat station
Work is set to start soon on the new RNLI lifeboat station in Anstruther. While there's no confirmed start date yet, preparatory work is ongoing and it’s hoped that work onsite will begin in the Spring.
Stuart Hannell, Regional Estates Manager for the RNLI said: “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 more quickly, covering a larger stretch of coastline and offering greater protection to local fishermen, visitors, and seafarers.
“We are delighted to see this project progressing. The new lifeboat station will be a game-changer for our dedicated volunteer crew, allowing us to reach those in need even more efficiently. We appreciate the community’s patience and support during the construction phase.”
The boat hall in the current lifeboat station is too small for the new boat and it is not economically viable to expand on the current site. Following a consultation and planning process it was agreed in 2020 that the new shed would be built at the opposite side of the East Basin car park, and the old station would then be demolished to allow for car parking to be reinstated.
While the work is taking place, the East Basin car park and access to the beach will be closed to the public. This is a necessary part of the process to keep everyone safe while construction continues. To reduce the impact on businesses and services in the town a temporary, park and ride car park has been built, near the Co-operative Supermarket, in Anstruther. A bus will run daily, during peak times, to transfer visitors and locals from the car park to the harbour area throughout the day. This is all being provided by the RNLI at considerable expense for the charity.
A traffic management plan has been prepared to minimise disruption, and regular updates will be provided on the Council’s website and through social media. The build is expected to take around 18 months to complete.
Cllr Altany Craik, Fife Council spokesperson for Finance, Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “The new lifeboat station will mark a considerable investment by the RNLI in Fife and the East Neuk in particular. The state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance lifesaving capabilities but also ensure that Anstruther remains at the heart of maritime safety for generations to come.
“While we acknowledge there will be some short-term disruptions, we are working closely with the RNLI to keep the community informed and to mitigate any inconvenience.
“I know the local community will get behind this amazing project as the RNLI holds a very special place in their hearts. "
Construction is set to begin soon and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. Residents and businesses can stay informed by visiting Fife Council’s website, where updates on traffic management and project developments will be posted regularly.
Roadworks – East Basin car park, Anstruther (estimated Spring 2025 to Winter 2026)
The RNLI are about to begin work on a new, state of the art, lifeboat station, to house their new 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.They have invested £3.5m in bringing this superior, all-weather lifeboat to Anstruther.
To enable this work, the East Basin car park will need to be closed for the duration of the work. A new car park will be built on the site of the old lifeboat station, once that is demolished.
Location
Anstruther East Basin car park is situated at East Shore, in Anstruther. The car park is next to the current lifeboat shed and opposite the Scottish Fisheries Museum.
Work programme
It is hoped the work will start this Spring. A definite date is yet to be agreed. The work is expected to last around 18 months. A full Traffic Management Plan has been prepared. The car park will remain closed for the duration but the parking spaces on East Shore are unlikely to be affected. Any disruption to traffic using Shore Street and East Shore is expected to be brief and irregular.
Planning documents
Temporary car park
A temporary car park has been created by the RNLI, near Anstruther Co-operative Supermarket.
Business Support
InvestFife is a collective brand, which incorporates all of Fife Council’s Economic Development services, including Business Enterprise, Land and Property, which in partnership with Business Gateway Fife, aims to support businesses in Fife.
For free, impartial business support, contact FifeMeansBusiness@fife.gov.uk. Further information on the services we can offer can be viewed within our Guide to Services
Communications
Regular updates will be provided through our social media channels and website. Road signs will be displayed directing motorists to the temporary car park
FAQs
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. The most feasible option for both Fife Council and the RNLI was to build a new station along the shore. This will also allow for minimal disruption to our 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.
How long will the East Basin carpark be closed for?
To allow for a safe and swift build of the new lifeboat station, the East Basin carpark will be closed for the duration of the build project. The work should take around 18-months to complete.
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 build. 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?
This is still being finalised but we hope that tour buses and coaches will be able to use the bus stop opposite the Fisheries Museum
When will the work start on the new station?
Work is due to start this Spring, and the build will take approximately 18 months to complete.
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. The East Basin car park adjacent to the new station will be closed for the duration of the build. A temporary car park with seasonal park and ride facilities will be available in the town.
How will the traffic and buses 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. Pick up and drop off places for coaches are still being considered.
Will on street parking near the site be used by those working on the new lifeboat station?
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?
The exact operating dates and times are still being considered and will be shared once an official start date is known, but the service will run during peak times and is being fully funded by the RNLI. For context, this is the first time in the RNLI’s 201-year history that a park and ride service has been funded by the charity and is a commitment by them to help alleviate disruption during the build.
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 beach by the lifeboat station?
In order to keep the public safe during the build, the small beach by the station will be closed to everyone. Access to Castle Street beach will be unaffected.
Can you delay the station build until the Autumn to reduce the impact to the town during the spring and summer?
There is no option to delay the start of the project. Planning was applied for and granted in 2020, and the RNLI have gone through a rigorous tender process and a contractor has now been appointed with sub-contractors lined up for a Spring start. Material and labour costs continue to rise, and the RNLI have spent the first quarter of this year conducting a value engineering exercise in order to reduce costs further.
Why deliver a lifeboat before the station has been built?
The lifeboat build programme is mapped out years in advance to support the 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, Anstruther’s Shannon-class lifeboat was completed in 2024. Due to unforeseen delays since 2020, the RNLI had no choice but to deliver the lifeboat to Anstruther and use a temporary compound until the new station is built. It is feared the launch and recovery vehicle (designed to be kept indoors) will need significant maintenance at a considerable cost to the charity due to the unplanned exposure to the elements.
What consultation took place on this?
The planning application 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 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.
What support is there for businesses which might be affected?
InvestFife is a collective brand, which incorporates all of Fife Council’s Economic Development services, including Business Enterprise, Land and Property, which in partnership with Business Gateway Fife, aims to support businesses in Fife.
For free, impartial business support, contact FifeMeansBusiness@fife.gov.uk. Further information on the services we can offer can be viewed within our Guide to Services
Why are we just hearing about this now?
The planning permission has been in place since 2020 and at that time a community consultation was carried out, including a walk-through of the traffic management plan by Fife Council and the Community Council. The project has been delayed but the planning permission is still in place.
We’ll continue to add to this page as details on some aspects are finalised and as questions may arise.
