Jumbo Colchester: Building could be purchased from private owner

The We Are Colchester partnership has secured £18.2m funding from the Government’s Town Deal Fund.

A total of £1 million of this will go towards the first phases of restoring Grade ll listed Victorian water tower Jumbo, which is owned by Paul Flatman.

Colchester Council’s cabinet discussed the funding allocations for the Government Town Deal cash at a meeting on Wednesday.

Visiting councillor Lee Scordis questioned whether allocating £1 million to a private building was a fair use of money.

In response, Darius Laws, councillor responsible for economy, business and heritage, said there was a “conversation” ongoing on the future ownership of the building.

Mr Laws said: “It is not £1 million going to the owner of a private building.

"It is my understanding a conversation has been initiated with the owner of Jumbo about the terms by which he might wish to relinquish ownership of it.

“It may be a case of a virtual freehold, it may be a freehold. I think it is an open, live conversation.”

Charity North Essex Heritage is working with Mr Flatman in a bid to bring Jumbo back into sustainable and community use.

How Jumbo could look after being revamped (Image: Newsquest)

Plans to revamp the building could include a restaurant in the tank and an exhibition space covering the town’s history.

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Mr Laws said the £1 million from the Government’s Town Deal would help unlock millions more needed to revamp Jumbo, which has laid dormant for decades.

He said: “The million pounds is there to leverage more money, significantly more money.

“I understand the way in which the National Lottery Heritage funding changed not too long ago made it quite hard for applicants to get money unless they are putting up a lot in the first place. That is what this is about.

“It is my understanding also that Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust, which has people far more qualified than me in complicated old buildings, are the ones who have put together the options appraisal for what Jumbo could be.

“I think there are elements there which are not set in stone.”