A new lease of life for an iconic Welsh building in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park moved a step closer this week.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee on Monday unanimously approved an application for the conversion of the old lifeboat station in Tenby, to full residential use.

The application for full planning permission and listed building consent followed an extensive marketing exercise carried out by the RNLI to find a future use for this landmark building.

Committee chairman Clr. Michael Williams said: "The old lifeboat station is in the heart of the conservation area in the National Park and so any future use must preserve and enhance the area. Any redevelopment therefore needed to be realistic and viable to enable the building to be maintained in good repair, without harming its character or setting.

"This proposed conversion is very sensitively designed and members are confident that it provides a long-term solution that will retain the appearance and character of this iconic Grade II listed building."

An application in 2006 to demolish the old lifeboat station was approved by the National Park Authority and Cadw, but that decision was called in by the Welsh Assembly Government.

At a hearing, the planning inspector concluded that the old lifeboat station should be preserved, as it had not been demonstrated that all reasonable efforts had been made to find a viable new use for the building.

The RNLI's marketing exercise was carried out as a result of the inspector's decision to refuse the demolition.

The committee on Monday approved the proposal, subject to a Section 106 Agreement regarding the control of outside furniture and accessories such as seating, heat lanterns and plants.