Historic Channel fort sold to unnamed investor

A historic fort that stands on the Kent coast overlooking the English Channel has been sold to an unnamed private investor for an undisclosed sum, the agent handling the sale says.

Dover Citadel is a 33-acre (13.4-hectare) site that includes 54 buildings on the Western Heights, with some of them listed. It went on the market for £11m in 2024.

In recent years, the site had been used as a film set for productions including Marvel's Kraven the Hunter.

Ali Rana, head of national capital markets at property consultancy company Carter Jonas, said the new locally-based owner had extensive experience in maintaining heritage assets, particularly in Kent.

The Citadel was built in the 18th Century and was strengthened as a fort to guard against French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.

It was used as a defence site in two world wars, and in 1950 the War Office gave the centre to the Prison Service.

In the 2000s, it became the Dover Immigration Removals Centre until it closed in 2015.

Dover Citadel Ltd bought the site from the Ministry of Defence for £1.8m in 2020 with plans to turn it into a hotel with leisure, cultural, hospitality and residential uses, but it went back on the market four years later.

At the time, Dover Citadel company director David De Min said having to sell the site was "soul-destroying".

Kevin Mills, Dover District Council's leader, said it was "disappointing" plans for the citadel were not able to progress further previously.

After the sale was announced, he said: "We look forward to working with the new owners to maximise the potential of the site for the benefit of Dover and the district."

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