Property Information
Address:
Crown Building, Soar, Marlborough, Devon
, TQ7 3DS
, Devon
, United Kingdom
Price: Property no longer available.
Size: 4 sq ft2 sqm
Primary Category: Land
All Categories:
Land, Industrial,
Property Ref/Movehut: MH648017
Property Ref/Agent: 19457
*Please use the agent ref when calling the agent directly.
Property description
The Crown Building as it is now named has had a number of uses over the years and the structure that stands today was mostly completed in 1954 as a part of an Air Ministry ROTOR program. What was originally called the Hope Cove R 6 Control Bunker, it's purpose was as a RADAR control station built underground to withstand attack from the air. It was active until 1957 after which time it was briefly used as an RAF fighter control school until transfer to the Home Office in 1958. Home Office use was as a Regional seat of Government that would control the South West in the event of nuclear war and was maintained for this purpose until closure in the early 1990 's.
The building is Grade II listed as a rare survival of a Rotor R6 operations block of which only 5 were built, as a two storey bunker of
semi sunken design. It was designed to resist the affects of a 5 kiloton nuclear explosion and there are no windows within the building. The only openings within the structure are at each end of the ground floors, which still have the original blast doors and lobbies. The roof is a flat concrete slab, with a concrete parapet. The adjoining RAF Bolt Head was decommissioned in 1947 but today is used as a private airfield for light aircraft.
In more recent years, the site has been used for a variety of uses including secure archive storage and it recently used as a venue for an art exhibition. The current owners have undertaken pre planning enquiries and responses are held on file for interested parties.
Location
Situated in an elevated position inland from Bolt Head the site overlooks the sea and estuary at Salcombe and East Portlemouth within an area of outstanding natural beauty. The site adjoins the former RAF Bolt Head, which is now a privately run airfield Salcombe is famous for its picturesque situation and is considered one of the most popular holiday destination towns in South Devon. The town boasts superb coastal views and is situated in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The villages of Malborough (1.5 miles) and Hope Cove (2.5 miles) are also close by and Kingsbridge is approximately 5.4 miles.
Surrounded by farmland and with open coastal views the location is both scenic and dramatic. The Crown Building is positioned to the South East corner of the plot which measures 1.12 hectares (2.77 acres) with a private access road of approximately 1.5 km providing a further 0.5 hectares/ 1.23 acres
Accommodation
All areas are approximate and measured in accordance with the RICS Property Measurement (2nd Edition)
The approximate GIA of the bunker is 28,931 sq ft and the site boundary extends to approximately 4 acres (1.62 Ha) which includes the private access road of approximately 1.5 kilometres.
A semi underground structure with 56 rooms over the two floors.
RADIO TRANSMISSION MAST
Included within the sale is a 150 ft mast which currently benefits from one user producing an annual income of £6,000.
VIEWING AND FURTHER INFORMATION
Strictly by appointment with the sole agents.
Interested parties should not attend the site without a formal appointment
Rent / Price
The property will be available by way of auction contract via Clive Emson auctioneers with a reserve of £435,000. Vickery Holman are jointly instructed on this basis.
Reserve price £435,000 *
Terms
The property will be available by way of auction contract via Clive Emson auctioneers with a reserve of £435,000. Vickery Holman are jointly instructed on this basis.
Further information is available through:
Michael Easton
Vickery Holman
Balliol House
Southernhay
Gardens
Exeter, EX1 1NP
email M
M: 5
Katie Semmens
Clive Emson
West Country House
5 Kew Court
Pynes Hill
Exeter EX2 5AZ
M: 0
IMPORTANT
All lots are sold subject to the Common Auction Conditions and Special Conditions of Sale (unless varied by the Sellers Solicitors) together with the Addendum which will be available on Auction Day.
* PRICE INFORMATION
Guides are provided as an indication of each Seller's minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures at which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to Auction. Unless stated otherwise, each Lot will be offered subject to a reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the Lot during the Auction).
We expect the reserve will be set within the guide range or no more than 10% above single figure guide. Please check the website at cliveemson.co.uk regularly or call 0 in order to stay fully informed with the up-to-date information.
*ADDITIONAL FEES
An Administration fee and Other non-optional fees may be payable in addition to the bid price. All lots are offered subject to the Common Auction Conditions and Special Conditions of Sale or Revised Special Conditions of Sale (as applicable) and may include the repayment of search and other fees and or costs by the buyer.
All buyers are advised to inspect all available legal documentation prior to bidding and will be deemed to fully understand what they may be liable for if they are successful in purchasing. This should also include Stamp Duty, Land Registry fees and VAT which may become payable on completion in line with any property transaction whether it is by auction or private treaty. If, as a buyer, you are in doubt you should seek advice from your own professional advisors.
Services
The bunker is served by septic tank drainage, mains electricity and private water via bore hole and electric ram. Interested parties should make their own enquiries.
GENERATORS AND OTHER PLANT
There are two generators included (untested) but include one Cummins 375kva unit installed in 1993 and one non functioning 375kva Meadows unit installed in the 1950's. Both are fed from an underground 30,000 litre diesel tank which was installed circa 1991 untested).
Legal Fees
Each party to be responsible for their own legal fees in relation to this transaction.
VAT
All figures quoted are exclusive of VAT if applicable.
Grade II Listed Cold War Bunker
28,931 sq ft over two floors
4 acres
Current use (B8 for storage). Suitable for a number of uses (subject to planning)
Views over Salcombe Estuary
Available freehold
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