A 120-YEAR-OLD boathouse on the Llyn Peninsula will be replaced by a new multi-million pound building.

Planning permission has been granted for a state-of-the-art lifeboat station to house the Pwllheli RNLI’s new Shannon class vessel, which is estimated to arrive in 2020.

Earlier this week the RNLI revealed it will launch a £50,000 community fundraising appeal towards the modern new facility.

The new boathouse will be located next to Plas Heli, on the opposite side to the river to the present boathouse, which has served Pwllheli lifeboats for 127 years.

Along with the Shannon class lifeboat, the D-Class Robert J Wright will also be housed at the new station.

Together with new and improved facilities for the volunteer crew members, the boathouse will include a souvenir outlet and a public engagement area for the public to view and learn about the lifeboat.

Work on the new boathouse is scheduled to start in May 2019 with the completion of the boathouse in 2020 ready for the arrival of the new lifeboat.

No official name has been decided for the new lifeboat but officials at the RNLI headquarters in Poole are working closely with the donors.

A community fundraising appeal has now been launched with some of the children of current crew already thinking of ways to support the appeal.

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