Chiswick Lifeboat Station Gets Stay of Execution
Planned moved delayed until next year due to funding and technical issues
The existing station at Chiswick Pier House
June 7, 2025
The RNLI has been forced to postpone the planned move of its lifeboat station in Chiswick to Wandsworth.
The switch was originally due to take place during the summer with the charity saying that the new premises were better suited for its operations.
However, it is understood that a combination of rising costs and technical issues with the new base, which used to be the estate sales office for a property development, have resulted in the transfer being put off until next year.
David Clarke, the RNLI’s spokesperson, was unable to give a date for the closure of the Chiswick station but said that the target was that the new station should be ready for the next University Boat Race which is taking place on 4 April 2026.
The RNLI acquired a building in Wandsworth's Riverside Quarter in late 2023, intending to convert it into a modern lifeboat station. However, the building requires significant internal modifications to support 24/7 operations, including crew facilities, training areas, and visitor spaces. Additionally, upgrades to the adjacent pier are necessary to accommodate lifeboat mooring.
To fund these developments, the RNLI launched the Wandsworth Riverside Appeal, aiming to raise £2.7 million. As of November 2024, a large bequest had covered the majority of the cost, with the final £300,000 still needed. However, the RNLI says that the costs have now exceeded the initial estimates and are now expected to be £3.5million.
The move to Wandsworth is anticipated to enhance the RNLI's response capabilities on the River Thames, as approximately 70% of Chiswick's call-outs are eastwards towards central London. The new location is expected to reduce average emergency response times by about 1 minute and 20 seconds.
A visualisation of the new lifeboat station in Wandsworth. Picture: RNLI/David Clarke
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