Secret bunker housing plan slammed (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Secret bunker housing plan slammed

12:00pm Saturday 2nd February 2013 in Harwich and Manningtree News By Helen Barnett

HOUSING plans for a war bunker have been thrown out for not doing enough for the community.

Neighbours to Mistley’s secret bunker would have to compromise too much if 31 houses were built in the site near Furze Hill, Tendring Council’s planning committee said at their meeting on Tuesday, January 29.

They added Shrublands Road was not good enough to support more than 60 extra cars that would travel to and from the estate and the design was too imposing on the natural surroundings.

At the meeting Mistley Parish Council chairman Martin Rayner condemned the design for two rows of flats with curved roves as well as three underground houses within the bunker.

Mistley’s secret bunker was built in 1951 and used in the Cold War, received information of the approach of hostile aircraft in the 1950s. It was turned into a museum between 1996 and 2002 and given listed building status in May 2007.

The housing development aimed to secure the bunker’s future condition.