The house where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted with Novichok nerve agent in 2018 is now up for sale through a shared ownership scheme. The three-bedroom detached property on Christie Miller Road has been listed with a 30% share available for £114,000, while Wiltshire Council retains the remaining equity.
Following the high-profile poisoning incident, Wiltshire Council acquired the property to prevent it becoming a 'macabre tourist attraction'. Estate agent Carter & May is selling the house as an 'ideal family home', highlighting its proximity to local amenities and avoiding any mention of its notorious past. The council's decision to list the property through shared ownership aims to make it more affordable for first-time buyers or those with lower incomes.
The redbrick house on Christie Miller Road was the focal point of an international incident in March 2018, when Russian agents applied Novichok to its front door handle. Sergei Skripal and Yulia survived the attack but four months later, Dawn Sturgess tragically died after touching a discarded perfume bottle containing the same nerve agent.
An inquiry into the poisonings concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'must have authorised' the attack on Skripal and was 'morally responsible' for Ms Sturgess's death. The investigation highlighted the 'public demonstration of Russian state power', intended to impact both internationally and domestically, and involved hundreds of police and scientists working to pinpoint the 'ground zero' of the poisoning.
The sale offers a unique entry point into the housing market through shared ownership, allowing buyers to purchase a percentage of the property and pay rent on the remaining share. As local authorities continue to manage properties with complex circumstances, this listing highlights the ongoing efforts to make affordable housing options available in Salisbury.