Outwood Lane Shelter was one of five constructed by Surrey County Council in 1941. Unlike the others, the shelter was never finished. The original design has been reported as 5,200 bunk beds but this is felt to be a gross exaggeration and offical records suggest a capacity of 1,500.
Only 400 feet (of a planned 2,500 feet) of tunnel had been completed on abandonment, which is understood to be as a result of soft chalk, unsuitable for defensive purposes without extensive additional support (and cost).