London's £950k 'Nuclear Shelter' Home Sparks Outrage and Mockery
A newly marketed three-bedroom home in south-west London has ignited a firestorm of criticism after being listed for offers exceeding £950,000. Online commentators and local residents have derided the property, comparing its appearance to a 'nuclear shelter' and likening its design to '1930s seaside public toilets'.
A Decade-Long Development Saga
The narrow infill plot, wedged between existing homes in the sought-after Southfields area, has spent more than a decade hidden behind hoardings following the demolition of garages. Now, as development nears completion, the modest site is being presented as a 'desirable one-off architecturally-designed' residence.
A Rightmove sales listing describes the two-storey property as 'a unique opportunity' and an 'exceptional new residence designed for modern living', targeting buyers prepared to meet its near seven-figure asking price. The marketing highlights an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, two bathrooms, and underfloor heating powered by air source heat pumps.
Scathing Online Reactions
When computer-generated illustrations of the flat-roofed, timber-screened new build were shared on Reddit's Spotted on Rightmove forum, the reaction was overwhelmingly negative. One commenter described the modern design as having 'all the ambiance and warmth of a prison recreation yard'.
Another compared it to a 'generator backup storage facility', while a third wrote: 'I really want to see the three bedrooms in real life, not AI. Because it must be like sleeping in a nuclear shelter.' The CGI images depict a stark, largely windowless frontage concealed behind horizontal wooden slats, with critics pointing to the enclosed feel of the scheme and limited light in the open-plan basement living area.
One particularly scathing remark stated: 'A million quid to live in a Portacabin in London - south of the river, as well. I'll stick with my £170k three-bed semi in Burnley. I might not have a Pret nearby but I'll live.' Another exclaimed: 'A million quid for a building that from the outside looks like a 1930s seaside public toilets'.
Local Residents Express Disbelief
When the Daily Mail visited Sutherland Grove, where properties sold for an average £1,330,000 over the past year, local residents were equally aghast. Janet Williams, 77, who has lived on the road for 40 years with her husband Barrie, 81, said: '£950,000? For that? You cannot be serious.'
She added: 'I assumed it was just going to be a little one room place for someone who wanted easy access to the city, who would then go elsewhere for the weekends. Surely they will not get that asking price, it's tiny. I am amazed, honestly, totally amazed.'
Sarah Jones, 60, who has lived on Sutherland Grove for 16 years, was stunned when shown the advert on Rightmove, stating: 'I'm just staggered, absolutely staggered. That is, frankly, just ridiculous. I know they've gone down into the basement to make it a three-bed property but, honestly, who on earth is going to pay almost £1 million for something that looks like a glorified garage?'
Planning Challenges and Revised Designs
Planning documents reveal the long-running saga behind the stop-start development. Hoarding had been in place around the site since 2014 as various design iterations were applied for, with work commencing and pausing repeatedly. Wandsworth Council signed off on plans in 2023 to build the bunker-like home measuring 93 square metres.
However, the plans had to be redrawn once again when a sewer was discovered running through the site. Revised drawings saw the building's footprint shrink to just 88 square metres - a fraction above the 84 square metre national minimum standard for a three-bedroom home.
Estate Agents Remain Optimistic
Despite the online backlash and local skepticism, estate agents insist the project will finally bring life to a site that has remained boarded up for more than a decade. The sales particulars state: 'Welcome to this exceptional new residence - designed for modern living and built with style in mind. This bespoke, two-storey home, complete with a full-size basement, has been newly crafted to offer comfort, luxury, and flexible living spaces in one of South West London's most desirable locations.'
The property's marketing also promises proximity to good schools, transport links and local amenities, with Southfields Underground Station on the District Line within walking distance. However, these selling points have failed to quell the widespread mockery and disbelief at the property's ambitious pricing in London's notoriously expensive housing market.
