A rare example of post-war modernist housing is set to go under the hammer later this month, with a three-bedroom Span house in Blackheath heading to auction with a guide price of £450,000.
The property, located on the private Cator Estate, will be sold via online auction on Thursday 26 February. Designed in 1961 by the celebrated British architect Eric Lyons and developed by Span Developments, the house offers a rare chance to acquire an original Span home that has remained in the same ownership since it was built.
Unusually for a Span property, the house retains a wealth of period features, including teak built-in wardrobes, parquet flooring, original sliding doors and kitchen fittings. Many Span houses have been extensively modernised over the years, making examples with this level of originality increasingly hard to find.
Set within a quiet, tree-lined development known as The Plantation, the accommodation comprises a double reception room, study and separate kitchen on the ground floor, with three bedrooms, a bathroom and a separate WC on the first floor. Outside, the house benefits from a secluded courtyard garden, an additional private garden, residents’ parking and a garage.
The location is one of the scheme’s biggest draws. The Plantation is among Span’s most sought-after developments, positioned around half a mile from Blackheath Village, its mainline station and the wide open spaces of Greenwich Park and Blackheath itself.
Daniel Gale, director at First for Auctions, said the sale represented a rare opportunity. “This is a very special property. It offers the chance to restore and live in an architectural icon that combines strong design pedigree with a fantastic location,” he said. “Span homes like this don’t come up often, and this one is particularly rare in its originality.”
Span Developments was co-founded by Lyons and developer Geoffrey Townsend with the ambition of rethinking suburban housing in the 1950s and 1960s. Together they delivered more than 2,000 homes across southern England, characterised by modernist design, careful proportions and community-focused landscaping.
Viewings for the Blackheath property are available by appointment, with the legal pack already online. The auction will take place on 26 February 2026, with further details and bidder registration available through the First for Auctions website.
