A unique four-storey water tower in Yorkshire has hit the market for £200,000, but its listing has been met with a wave of online amusement and predictions that it could be the next victim of the so-called 'Grand Designs curse'.
A Blank Canvas in a Sought-After Village
The substantial concrete structure is located in the 'ever sought after' village of Wheldrake, just outside York. It boasts stunning panoramic views of the Yorkshire countryside and features a lavish garden. Its position is highly convenient, being a stone's throw from the local primary school and with the village pub just a few metres down the road.
Marketed by Ashtons Estate Agents, the listing presents the tower as a 'blank canvas for any prospective self-builder'. It explicitly notes the property has 'the potential to be converted to a residential property subject to the necessary planning permissions'. Each of the four floors is currently connected by a metal ladder, highlighting the scale of the renovation project that awaits any new owner.
Online Reaction and the 'Kevin McCloud Kiss of Death'
The property's potential has not been lost on observers online, many of whom immediately drew parallels with the Channel 4 show Grand Designs, hosted by Kevin McCloud. The program is famous for following ambitious self-build projects, some of which encounter significant difficulties, leading fans to joke about a 'curse'.
One Reddit user quipped, 'Just needs a recently married couple and the curse of Kevin McCloud', while another joked, 'Somewhere, Kevin McCloud is salivating'. A third commenter expressed scepticism about the budget, stating, 'You're not making this livable for less than a mil'.
This sentiment was echoed by another who recalled a similar TV project: 'I saw a couple on grand designs do up a very similar building and whilst they had great plans it was a complete money hole'. The discussion even touched on the entertainment value of such ambitious undertakings, with one person writing, 'We want someone who thinks they can do it for £100k and some favours so we can watch the inevitable train wreck'.
A History of Grand Water Tower Conversions
The online reaction is informed by several high-profile water tower conversions that have featured on Grand Designs, with wildly varying outcomes.
One of the show's success stories involved Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce, who purchased a former water tower in Kennington, South West London, in 2012. They embarked on a monumental project, spending almost £2million to transform the crumbling ruin into a spectacular nine-floor family home, complete with the UK's biggest sliding doors. The 100ft tower, offering 360-degree views of London, was a highlight of the show's 100th episode. However, its financial journey was rocky; after being put on the market in 2013 for £6.5million, its price was later reduced and it eventually sold in 2021 for close to its £2.75 million asking price.
In stark contrast, a more recent episode featured Tassy and Adam, a couple with a dream to convert an abandoned tower into a unique nine-bedroom home for their family. Their ambitious plans included a swimming pool, slides, a fireman's pole, and a sky garden. However, after five years of work, the project was far from complete, with presenter Kevin McCloud noting the exterior had barely changed. The episode, which aired last year, was slammed by viewers as the 'worst idea ever', and the unfinished project was described as a 'concrete hell'.
This mixed history of triumph and struggle is what fuels the online debate surrounding the Wheldrake water tower. For £200,000, it represents either a golden opportunity or a potential financial abyss, waiting for the right—or wrong—person to take on the challenge.
