May 13, 2019 11.54 am This story is over 58 months old

Historic Gainsborough water tower conversion rejected

The plans would have seen bungalows built at the base
Cox Hill Water Tower, Heapham Road, in Gainsborough.

Council officers have pulled the plug on plans to turn a historic, disused water tower in Gainsborough into a new home.

The proposals submitted to West Lindsey District Council would have seen the Cox Hill Water Tower, Heapham Road, converted into a two bedroom house.

Along with the conversion, developer, Simon Stuart, wanted to build five bungalows on the site.

However, officers rejected the application criticising the “unacceptable design, scale, mass, siting and layout” of the plans and said there would be harm to the listed tower, the cemetery and views from summer hill.

Site layout for the Cox Hill Water Tower plan.

“Furthermore the proposal provides insufficient amenity space for the tower,” they added.

“The proposal does not preserve the listed building, or its setting, nor does it enhance the listed building or its setting and therefore fails the statutory test.”

Built in 1897, the tower is a grade-II listed building and is surrounded by a former reservoir which was constructed in 1864.

An early 20th Century postcard of Cox Hill Water Tower, Gainsborough.

Planning permission to redevelop the land was given approval in December 2013.

Mr Stuart had said in his plans that the proposal aimed to retain the tower as a “key focal point” of the site.

In a heritage assessment, he believed the scheme would create “considerable heritage gain” and “enhance the significance of the tower.”

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