CAMPAIGNERS hoping to restore Colchester’s Jumbo water tower are celebrating an historic agreement which gives them control of the landmark building...and opens the door to more funding.

The building’s owner, Paul Flatman, has agreed to lease the Grade ll* listed water tower to North Essex Heritage for 150 years.

The deal will help kickstart the long-awaited project to restore the disused Victorian tower and bring it into a financially sustainable use.

The charity has plans to convert the 34 metre tower, which is of national heritage importance, into a destination venue, restaurant, visitor experience and historical interpretation space.

Gazette:

Simon Hall, chairman of North Essex Heritage, said: “This is wonderful news for Colchester and for Jumbo, which we know is a much-loved part of our town.

“The co-operation of Jumbo’s owner means we can finally move forward with this community project after this unique building has stood unused for some 37 years.

“These are exciting times. The lease, together with the £1 million from We Are Colchester’s Town Deal Fund bid and continued support from Historic England, means the future is bright.

“The money from the Government’s Town Deal fund has now been confirmed and this will allow us to start on the urgent repair works and develop the restoration programme.

“We are hopeful we are now in a strong position to win millions of pounds of funding for the project from other sources.”

The water tower is on Historic England’s Buildings at Risk register but Mr Hall added: “A restored Jumbo will help make the cultural West End, with the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre, a premium gateway to Colchester and a destination to be proud of.”

Mr Flatman bought Jumbo at a London auction in 2014 for £190,000.

Former owner George Braithwaite decided to sell the famous tower after his plans to convert it into luxury flats, offices, a restaurant and a museum were refused by the Colchester Council.

With his son, Dominic, Mr Flatman said yesterday: “We are pleased to have been able to agree an acceptable way forward for all concerned.

“We look forward to contributing to North Essex Heritage’s efforts to achieve completion of the project with the assistance of grant funders and the people of Colchester.”

Colchester councillor Darius Laws, portfolio holder for economy, business and heritage, said: “Jumbo is an iconic feature of Colchester’s skyline and I am thrilled it can now be utilised to its full potential, to be enjoyed and cherished by residents and visitors alike.

“We are extremely grateful to all the partnership organisations who have worked to make this possible.”

“Regenerating Jumbo and the public realm around it will complement the Mercury Theatre, Colchester Arts Centre and the nearby businesses and I can’t wait to get to the top of Jumbo.”