Anyone who watched the first episode of the new series of Grand Designs last week, may have done a double-take at the beginning of the programme, as the camera followed a couple walking through lush countryside towards the Grade II-listed former radar station perched on top of St Boniface Down.
The programme featured the story of Sarah and Howard, an interior designer and architect, who were building a radical new floating home on Shoreham Beach, West Sussex.
The couple, whose agency is known as Thinking Space, were also responsible for the design of the converted radar station in Ventnor, which sits on a four-acre plot surrounded by National Trust land.
Up for sale
Interestingly, last week the Ventnor property went up for sale, with a listing appearing on RightMove a day after the programme aired.
How much is it going for you ask? A cool £1.2million is the asking price for this four bedroom, four bathrooms, 203 square metres of “superb contemporary” architecture.
The property is being marketed by The Modern House, London, an agency with a stunning collection of homes on their books. You can see the Ventnor listing on the Right Move website.
Background
The former Radar station was sold by BT in 2005 for £61,000. Derelict for many decades, the old bunker was a popular venue for local raves.
It was almost ten years later that a planning application to convert the site into a luxury holiday residence was submitted. The plans were met with opposition from some quarters, but a lot of support from others.
Chair of Visit Isle of Wight at the time, Simon Dabell, shared his support for the application, saying, “the plans show imagination and make best use of what has been for many years a derelict site”.
However, the Campaign to Protect Rural England raised concerns over potential light pollution of dark night skies, foul sewage plans and flood risks.
The plans were approved and the renovation undertaken. The property has been mostly used as holiday accommodation over the years, but the previous listing has since disappeared from AirBnB.
Memories from the radar station
In 2007, former RAF member Don Adams shared memories of his time working at the Radar Station.
You can read more on his feature as well as on his dedicated Ventnor Radar Station website
Interested in architecture? See OnTheWight’s architecture archive.
