Grade II listed Cold War site with residential potential in Brislington heads to auction
The plot could become a unique conversion(Image credit: Plotfinder)
Tucked behind brambles and ivy a long-forgotten Cold War-era War Room in Brislington is heading to auction with the opportunity to be reborn as a house.
While it once served as a secure government War Room, it now has potential to be converted into one of Bristol’s most unique homes.
The guide price for the plot begins at £50,000 with more details on the auction available on the Plotfinder website.
From Fallout to floorplans
(Image credit: Plotfinder)
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(Image credit: Future)
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It might not look like much from the outside (or the inside, for that matter), but this former War Room could be the ultimate fixer-upper.
Spanning 8,709 square feet over two levels – with 5,188 sq ft at ground level and another 3,509 sq ft below. The layout includes a network of secure rooms and wide corridors that lend themselves naturally to reimagined living areas, bedrooms, or creative zones.
Though many of the windows remain boarded up, there’s ample opportunity to bring light back in, all while respecting the building’s Grade II listed status and historical character.
Listed building consent required for the bunker
The War Room sits within a larger redevelopment area that already benefits from outline planning permission for up to 160 new homes. While most of the existing buildings on the site are marked for demolition, this Cold War-era structure is a listed exception, retained specifically for reuse rather than removal.
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Although it currently has consent for commercial, storage, and community uses, its Grade II listed status does not rule out a residential conversion (Class C3). Instead, any shift to housing would simply require listed building consent and full planning permission – a feasible route for the right buyer with vision and patience.
Listed building consent has been granted for external landscaping works, which the seller is expected to complete before the auction. These preparatory upgrades create a promising foundation for anyone exploring the potential to convert the building into a truly unique home.
Auction details and how to bid
The War Room will be sold via live online auction on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at 17:30, with a guide price of £50,000–£100,000. Bidders must register by 16:00 on Monday 21st April 2025.
The property is being sold freehold and with vacant possession. A buyer’s premium of £1,800 (including VAT) applies, and VAT is also payable on the purchase price.
More details of the bunker can be found on the Plotfinder website with pre-auction offers being considered.
Plotfinder.net is Homebuilding & Renovating's sister site that has thousands of self build and renovation opportunities from estate agents and auction sites across the UK. Subscribe today and get email alerts for potential plots straight to your inbox.(Image credit: Future)
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
