Developer snaps up ex-DWP offices and nuclear war bunker site in Bristol

Bristol War Room is set to be reopened for community or commercial use

Work to demolish former DWP offices in Bristol and replace them with homes will finally start next year as part of a scheme which could see a Cold War nuclear bunker brought back into use.

Bellway Homes has completed a deal with Telereal Trillium to purchase the land in Flowers Hill in Brislington, which was also once used as a driving centre and a Second World War hospital.

It comes after outline planning permission was given to redevelop the site with 160 homes last year. A key part of the approved scheme is also to reopen the neglected Grade II-listed Bristol War Room for community or commercial use.

The two-storey concrete-walled shelter was built in 1953 to ‘co-ordinate civil defence’ in the event of an atomic attack, and to protect regional government. Today it stands derelict - although many of the items from the 1950s remain inside.

Announcing the purchase, Bellway Homes said it planned to start work next year on the residential development next year, after submitting more details on its plans to Bristol City Council.

Sam Sowden, land director at Bellway Homes, added: “Exchanging contracts on this site forms part of our strategy for growth as a division and to bring high-quality housing to Bristol. This follows on from our recently launched Berwick Green development at Cribbs Causeway and will help to meet the housing need in and around the city.

“We are excited to have exchanged with Telereal Trillium and thank them and their agent Savills, for their hard work. We will now be working on our reserved matters application, which we will be looking to submit in the summer.”

View of the site off Flowers Hill today, which includes the nuclear war bunkerView of the site off Flowers Hill today, which includes the nuclear war bunker
View of the site off Flowers Hill today, which includes the nuclear war bunker

Telereal Trillium held a public consultation on the housing plans before getting permission last year. Sam Rosenkranz, asset manager at Telereal Trillium, said: “We want to thank again those who worked with us from the city council, community groups and members of the local community to provide valuable feedback during the progression of the application last year.”

When the planning application went before a planning committee for approval, Brislington West ward Lib Dem Cllr Andrew Varney told members it made good use of a brownfield site. He added that the developers had taken on the community’s suggestion for a footpath and cycleway linking Flowers Hill and Hungerford Road.

Bellway Homes also own land next to Brislington Park and Ride. The company has unveiled plans to build more than 500 homes at the site.