A former London Underground tube station used during the Second World War as a command centre has been sold for £53 million, Vigilance can report. The unique property at 206 Brompton Road was put on the market in September last year by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is expected the property will now be used for a predominantly residential development and the money raised will be ploughed back into the Defence budget. The tube station, which was opened in 1906 and designed by English architect Leslie Green, closed in 1934 after London Underground decided it was no longer financially viable. The building was later taken over by the War Office and used as an anti-aircraft operations room.

Defence Minister Andrew Murrison said: “The Ministry of Defence is committed to selling off its surplus land and property in order to provide the best possible value for money to the taxpayer. At the same time we take our role as a custodian of the nation’s history very seriously and have been working to record the historic significance of the building.”

The 28,000 square feet property contains a drill hall, garages, offices and mess above ground and has recently has been occupied by the London University Air Squadron (UAS), the London University Royal Naval Unit (URNU), and 46F Squadron Air Training Corps (Air cadets). There are also several subterranean areas, previously used as part of the former Brompton Road Underground Station, but these have been left largely unused since the end of the Second World War.

There are few relics left other than a large map of London and the MOD is working with the National Archives to ensure the map is recorded.