For Sale

Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
For Sale
**Extremely Rare Listing/Unique Opportunity**
Former Regional Government HQ Nuclear bunker totalling c.46,383 sq ft, set on a self contained site of c.3.74 acres

Summary
• Northern Ireland’s only nuclear bunker of its type.
• Designed and constructed as part of UK Government Nuclear Civil Defence Planning.
• Capable of accommodating 236 personnel for extended periods.
• Approximately 46,383 sq ft built on two levels, with the lower floor completely underground.
• Set on a self contained site of c.3.74 acres.
• An extensive range of the original fixtures and fittings included in the sale.
• Offers are invited in the region of £575,000.
Location
For Indicative Purposes Only
For Indicative Purposes Only
The subject property is located in Woodside Road Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of Ballymena.
Ballymena is one of Northern Ireland’s largest provincial towns with a population of approximately
58,000 persons. Ballymena benefits from a catchment of around 270,000 people within a 30
minute drive. The location of the bunker benefits from its proximity to the following locations:
Ballymena
M2 Motorway
A26 Dual Carriageway
Antrim
Belfast International Airport
Belfast
1.5 miles
1.5 miles
5.6 miles
14 miles
24 miles
31 miles
For Indicative Purposes Only
Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Description
During the Cold War, the UK government ordered the construction of thousands of underground
complexes. Almost 1,600 nuclear monitoring posts and 36 control posts for military and civil
defence purposes were built across the UK between 1955 and 1965. Additionally, during the
1980s, the government also funded a programme to create emergency Regional Government HQ
centres in strategic locations.
The subject property was commissioned in the late 1980’s, opened in 1990 and is believed to
be one of the last and most technically advanced bunkers built in the UK. It is Northern Ireland’s
only nuclear bunker of its type and extends to c. 46,383 sq ft over two floors, providing living
accommodation for up to 236 persons. The lower floor is completely underground and the
upper floor is mounded over with c. 1 metre of earth. Since completion in 1990, the building
has been maintained in a ‘fit and ready state’ for any such emergency but was never actually
used for its intended purpose. As such over recent years it has been subject only to essential
maintenance as required. Internally the building is fully equipped for purpose with most original
fixtures and fittings still in place as built. The building has 3 points of access, all via interlocking
double blast doors. Internally the bunker provides dormitories, male and female WC’s, commercial
kitchen facilities, BBC audio visual broadcasting facility, conference facilities, air filtration systems,
conference rooms, decontamination chambers, plant rooms and oil storage.
The bunker is served by an impressive array of life support systems from air filtration plants, back
up generators and water storage tanks. In the event of a nuclear attack the building could have
operated in a closed down situation for approximately 30 days. The services and life support
systems were designed to make the building and its occupants self sufficient for this length of
time.
Schedule of Accommodation
Level Sq Ft Sq M
Lower Level 23,937 2,223.8
Upper Level 22,446 2,084.9
Total 46,383 4,308.7
Additional information and floorplans available upon request.
Planning
As per the Ballymena Area Plan 2001, the property lies within the development limit and is
zoned as ‘white land’. As such, the property could lend itself to a wide variety of uses such as
for example a secure data / document storage facility. Alternatively, given the original conditions
and retained specification, the property may present a superb opportunity for a tourist, themed
historic/visitor/education attraction, all subject to planning. For example in the UK – see www.
secretbunker.co.uk.
Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk

Title
The title and contract are available for inspection: Commercial and Property Division, Departmental
Solicitors, Centre House, 79 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 4JE. Contact: Elizabeth McCartan; Tel: 028 9054
251; Email: Elizabeth.mccartan@dfpni.gov.uk
Tenure
The subject property is held freehold.
Rates
For further information, please contact the agent.
EPC
G191
Price
Unconditional offers invited in the region of £575,000.
Further Information
For further information or viewing arrangements, please contact:-
Stuart Draffin
Phillip Smyth
028 9026 9215 028 9026 9228
sdraffin@lsh.co.uk pssmyth@lsh.co.uk
Lambert Smith Hampton
Clarence House
4/10 May Street
Belfast BT1 4NJ
Subject to Contract and Exclusive of VAT © Lambert Smith Hampton January 2015
Disclaimer: Lambert Smith Hampton Group Limited and its subsidiaries and their joint agents if any (“LSH”) for themselves and for the seller or landlord of the property whose agents they are give notice that: (i) These particulars are given and any statement about the property is made without responsibility on the part of
LSH or the seller or landlord and do not constitute the whole or any part of an offer or contract. (ii) Any description, dimension, distance or area given or any reference made to condition, working order or availability of services or facilities, fixtures or fittings, any guarantee or warrantee or statutory or any other permission,
approval or reference to suitability for use or occupation, photograph, plan, drawing, aspect or financial or investment information or tenancy and title details or any other information set out in these particulars or otherwise provided shall not be relied on as statements or representations of fact or at all and any prospective
buyer or tenant must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the accuracy of all information or suitability of the property. (iii) No employee of LSH has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty arising from these particulars or otherwise or enter into any contract whatsoever in relation to the
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(vi) In the case of new development or refurbishment prospective buyers or tenants should not rely on any artists’ impressions or architects’ drawings or specification or scope of works or amenities, infrastructure or services or information concerning views, character or appearance and timing concerning availability or
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Former Nuclear Bunker, Woodside Road, Ballymena
www.lsh.co.uk