Grey Goose eyes conversion of Everton water tower
The real estate investor, which shares its name with a brand of French vodka, has lodged plans to convert the grade two-listed building on Margaret Street into a short-stay apartment.
The company bought the tower at auction in February 2019 for £71,000.
The existing 30-metre building, built in 1857 by water engineer Thomas Duncan, would be refurbished into a one-bedroom property used for short stays and events, under Grey Goose’s plans. There would also be the addition of a single-storey recessed flat roof extension and glazed balcony.
While the application states that the development would contain two floors of accommodation, accessed through the installation of a lift and stairs, the layout has not been definitively worked out.
However, the accommodation would be “of good size, designed to minimise the effect on the existing and attractive listed building”, according to the design and access statement drawn up by architect Mark Architecture.
A new vehicle access point, with electric automated gates, would be created in the location of the current pedestrian access point.
The site has been unused and vacant for many years “due to the very specific architecture of the water tower, [which makes] identifying a suitable alternative use difficult to imagine”, the statement added.
“In creating this proposal, we have identified the significance of this important heritage asset,” the statement added.
“The proposed change of use, internal alterations and roof extension are a direct complement to the original architecture and have been specifically designed to be subtle and avoid affecting the original historic architectural character.”
Loughborough-based Grey Goose is owned by Nilesh Lakha and Rafaelle Russo, who between them also run firms called Peach Pelican and Red Falcon, respectively.
- The scheme was designed by Mark Architecture
