The luxury apartments in a renovated Cold War nuclear bomber that was previously used as a museum will be up for sale at auction.
The bunker, located on Shrublands Road, in the historic Essex village of Mistley, was built in 1951 by the MoD to be used as a command centre for the deployment and firing of anti-aircraft defences, in the event of a nuclear war.
Built with 600mm reinforced concrete walls, this bunker was later purchased by Essex County Council to serve the purpose of an emergency headquarters in the event that Britain was attacked by Soviet Union. It was never used.
After being purchased by developers in 2016, the concrete modular structure now houses two three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment. Each apartment is enclosed by heavy blast doors.
The properties will be sold together as a joint lot at an Allsop auction on November 9, with a guide price of £1.4million.
The bunker is located in Mistley in Essex. It was constructed by the MoD in 1951 as a command point for the deployment of anti-aircraft weapons and fire them in the event of nuclear war. Pictured, taken from the street
Later, the bunker was converted into a museum. However, it closed its doors in 2006. The site fell into disrepair. It now houses two apartments with three-bedrooms and one with four bedrooms, each of which are enclosed by heavy blast doors.
Luxury living: Each property is equipped with modern mod-cons, including AEG kitchen appliances, granite countertops and Italian marble in bathrooms (pictured). There are two properties with three bedrooms and one property with four bedrooms.
Museum: The museum was previously home to the Cold War exhibition Essex Secret Bunker. pictured is one of the exhibits
Modern amenities: One of the properties’ kitchens features marble countertops as well as a wine fridge.
How life was during the Cold War: The bedrooms were used as a museum and fitted with bunk beds so visitors could see what life would have been like in a nuclear bunker.
All flats are connected by an atrium which welcomes plenty of light. The rooms have bay windows to let in as much natural light as possible.
Bunker apartments are one-story above ground and one-story below. They are centered around a communal area with natural light flooding in.
Each property comes fully equipped with mod-cons such as AEG kitchen appliances, granite countertops and Italian marble in bathrooms.
The bedrooms have underfloor heating and carpeted flooring. This creates a cozy feel despite being in a strange setting. The apartments have off-road and private parking.
One property also has an original ventilation system behind a glass wall.
The development is hidden away in Mistley. This village has many shops, a popular restaurant, and a train station. It is only a short stroll from Manningtree along the River Stour.
The bunker was previously known as the “Essex Secret Bunker”, pictured above, until it was closed down in 2002. It will now house millionaires
The flats were painted green and only one level can be seen from the street. A developer was denied planning permission in 2013 after the Council of Tendring called their bunker project ‘an unnecessary eye-sore.
The three flats are spread over 2,000sq metres of space. All rooms are spacious, including this open-plan kitchen with a huge central island.
The skylights in the skylights let natural light into the subterranean floor. The kitchen was also fitted with state of the art appliances
The flats in this converted bunker include everything a keen chef would need to make a homely meal.
A huge Italian shower gives the shower room plenty of storage space and extra space. It is connected to other rooms in the house via a carpeted hallway.
The bedrooms, which are some of them on the subterranean levels, are cozy with white walls, fluffy grey carpeted flooring, and are pictured
The latest chapter of the site’s fascinating story is now complete with the residential development that was completed by BuildVantage.
The bunker cost the MoD £500,000 to build and was intended to serve as a Command centre for the firing and deployment of anti-aircraft weapons.
In 1963 the bunker was purchased by Essex County Council from the War Office at a cost of £5,250 and became their emergency headquarters in the event of a nuclear war.
It was made into a museum with accessories like communication tools and sleeping quarters to show how soldiers would have lived in the bunker after the Cold War ended.
However the museum closed in 2002, and the building was left to fall into disrepair, until it was auctioned off for £350,000 in 2006.
Another bathroom is located at street level. The atrium connects the three flats and is spread over two floors. One of them is subterranean.
Three flats are being auctioned together. The bathrooms are all tiled and finished in marble as shown. All flats have underfloor heating.
Despite being a former bunker the building has 600mm thick reinforced concrete walls and welcomes lots of light (pictured: one bathroom).
In 2013, Tendring Council’s planning committee rejected plans to turn he bunker into three homes, surrounded by 28 houses, Gazette News reported.
The council rejected the plans and called them ‘alien and an unnecessary eyesore’. The owner appealed the decision and eventually received planning permission.
The bunker, measuring 2,000 sq. metres, was then auctioned off again in 2016.
The properties were originally listed individually by estate agent Savills this summer, with prices starting at £550,000, but are now being sold together at auction.
Pictured: The museum in its final season before closing down in 2002. In 1963, it was purchased by Essex County Council from the War Office at a cost of £5,250 and became their emergency headquarters in the event of a nuclear war
The green bunker is located in rural Essex and has its own parking area and an enclosed garden for each flat. So, would you be willing to bid?