News story

Inside MOD's tube station

With the historic property going up for sale next month, we take a last look around MOD's Brompton Road site.

From:: Ministry of Defence and Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Published: 7 August 2013

The station building, designed by architect Leslie Green, sports distinctive semicircular windows and oxblood red tiles [Picture: Crown copyright] — The station building, designed by architect Leslie Green, sports distinctive semicircular windows and oxblood red tiles

Last week, the Ministry of Defence announced that it will be selling one of its central London sites at 206 Brompton Road, after the property was declared surplus to military requirements.

Original tiling at the platform level [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

History

Brompton Road station opened on 15 December 1906. However, it proved to be too close to Knightsbridge and South Kensington stations so it closed its doors to commuters less than 30 years later, on 30 July 1934.

Just before the Second World War, the building, together with the lift shafts and lower western passages, were sold to the War Office for use by the British Army’s Air Defence Formation, The 1st Anti-Aircraft Division. During the war, the station became the Royal Artillery’s Anti-Aircraft Operations Room for central London who stayed in the building until the 1950s.

The sign on a doorway: "Danger Ammunition" — The sign on this doorway deep underground in Brompton Road station still warns of wartime hazards long after their removal [Picture: Crown copyright]

A huge anti-aircraft operations map for central London in a lift well deep underground is one of the last remaining signs of the station's wartime history [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

Close-up of the wartime anti-aircraft operations map [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

For Sale

The site - of around 28,000 square feet - is currently occupied by the London University Air Squadron, the London University Royal Naval Unit and 46F Squadron Air Training Corps (Air Cadets), all of which will be found alternative accommodation before the sale.

It is located next to the Grade II* listed Brompton Oratory, Brompton Square, and is just metres away from Harrods.

Facilities at the property include a drill hall, garages, offices and mess, but the site also includes below-ground areas previously used as part of the former Brompton Road underground station.

Dark foot tunnels of the old station — Transport for London workers show us around the dusty, dark foot tunnels of the old station [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which is responsible for the management and maintenance of MOD land and property, has appointed London-based property agents Jones Lang LaSalle to manage the sale.

John Taylor, Estates Surveyor for DIO said:

The MOD keeps the size and location of its bases under constant review to ensure the Defence estate is no larger than necessary to meet operational needs and provides value for money for the taxpayer.

The property at Brompton Road has been declared surplus to requirements by the MOD and DIO is pleased to be working with Jones Lang LaSalle to find an appropriate buyer for the site.

University of London Air Squadron crest — Above ground, the station building is used as a town headquarters for the University of London Air Squadron, the London University Royal Naval Unit and 46F Squadron Air Training Corps [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

The crest of HMS Puncher, the sea based training platform of the University of London Royal Naval Unit [Picture: Shell Daruwala, Crown copyright]

Simon Hodson, Residential Land Director at Jones Lang LaSalle, said:

This well-located, prime central London site provides an excellent redevelopment opportunity and we are expecting a high level of interest from a variety of purchasers when we bring this to the market in September.