Private buyer splashes out on nuclear bunker near Winchester (From Daily Echo)

Private buyer splashes out on nuclear bunker near Winchester

2:04pm Tuesday 16th December 2008

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A FORMER nuclear bunker in the Hampshire countryside which attracted worldwide publicity was sold today.

Lot 87 had failed to sell during the public auction at the Rose Bowl near Southampton, but, just minutes afterwards, was bought privately by an individual for between the guide price of £240,000 and £260,000.

The hillside property near Winchester, originally a redundant covered reservoir from the Victoria era, was put up for auction by Southern Water.

Clive Emson auctioneer Rob Marchant said: "It’s not yet clear whether the property will be converted into a hobbit-style house, subject to planning permission, or be used as secure offices and storage.”

The new owner’s offer bought a main office, kitchen, build room, IT communications room, general office, generator room, electric switch room, 180-sq ft meeting room, a storage area of nearly 4,800 sq ft and 18 car parking spaces.

On the edge of Twyford village and down the end of a single-track lane, the former nuclear bunker was decommissioned 11 years ago.

With concrete walls 2.5 metres thick and a steel door some six inches thick, it was intended as a survival pod in the Cold War to withstand a nuclear blast.

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