Boyer Secures Planning and Listed Building Consent for WWII Raf Bunker
Boyer London has successfully secured Planning and Listed Building Consent for the conversion of a former WWII bunker into a holiday home.
The vacant bunker is Grade II Listed and was constructed by the RAF during the Second World War to use as part of a wider radar station to detect enemy aircraft crossing the English Channel. The bunker was part of the ‘Chain Home’ initiative, which alongside Radio Detection were regarded as the technology that won the Battle of Britain and Churchill’s Wizard War. The proposal provided a unique opportunity to repair and re-purpose the historic structure into a holiday home for the use and enjoyment of the wider population, allowing an appreciation and celebration of its wartime history.
The application was submitted to Dorset Council in March 2022 and Boyer liaised with the Council throughout the determination period to ensure the proposal was acceptable. To maintain the camouflaged appearance of the bunker, externally, most of the bunker will remain untouched, save for openings to provide access, and allow natural light inside. Internally, most if the old fixtures and fitting were removed when the bunker was decommissioned, however, the proposal provides an indication of the bunkers history and retains the exposed concrete walls. This provided the ability to retain evidence of the bunker’s history, whilst providing a modern and contemporary holiday home. Whilst the Council considered the proposal would result in less than substantial harm to the building, it concluded that this harm was outweighed by the public benefit of securing the optimum viable use of the building and revealing its significance.
Boyer are proud to have secured planning permission for this unique and sensitively designed conversion scheme that will secure a long-term viable use for a building in a way that celebrates its history and significance.
Image: (Lipton Plant Architects).