|
||||
|
|
 |
|
 Daily Mail - Property Our Tower of Babble (Filed: 07/03/2003) Want to save money on restoration? Install some mobile phone masts in your home and you'll have a regular income, reports Liz Rowlinson. WHEN the Victorians introduced mains water supply in the 1870s, many of Britain's water towers became redundant. Some are uninhabitable, but others offer a blank canvas for a highly unusual home. The towers also offer good investment potential by housing telecoms masts. The Lymm water tower in Cheshire is the tallest building in a high-traffic area. The local council, therefore, was keen for the site to house as many telecoms masts as possible. Russell Harris, 44, a TV presenter and producer who bought the Lymm water tower six years ago, knew that its income could pay for its renovation. Russell carefully negotiated the licence agreements for the masts, as he was keen to control maintenance visits and to be able to terminate them if necessary. The tower, which was owned by North West Water, had always fascinated him, so when he saw it was for sale he made inquiries. Russell's family - wife Jannette, 32, and children Sophie, seven, and James, 13 - had been living happily in a nearby farmhouse which had been derelict when they'd acquired it, so they weren't fazed by a property that needed so much doing to it. The octagonal tower is Grade II listed, was built in 1870, and is made of mottled Hollington stone. It is nine metres in diameter and 70ft high. A turret sprouting a dozen ugly telecoms masts and satellite dishes added another 20ft on top. Russell says: 'It hadn't been maintained; it was just pigeons and a huge corroded tank. It was in a dire state.' 'A local builder friend and I worked out a budget of £75,000 to do it up, and I put in my offer. There were 600 inquiries, 60 people shown round and 20 sealed bids. 'I didn't think I would get it, but I did - for £138,000. I borrowed some money but did nothing for a year. After all, it had an income from the telecoms companies which was equivalent to the average salary in this country. 'Five mobile phone companies pay me rent. Rather like a landlord, I rent out the sealed-off loft space to them to house their telecoms masts - to prevent access and to stop them blighting the building. This income allowed me to get a bank loan. 'There was also the health and safety issue with the masts. I had tests done on the levels of transmission. They are 90,000 times lower than European guidelines, but long-term health effects are not known and there are sceptics who think we're mad.' Russell then started discussions with architects. 'First, we thought we'd build a cottage and have the water tower in the grounds. Then we considered a wraparound extension with the base made of wood. We settled on a minimalist glass and concrete annexe, with five floors in the tower.' 'We got planning permission in 1999, but we called it a day for a while as the budget went sky-high. In 2000, Redrow Homes and Ellis Williams architects got involved and we came up with the two-floor glass and concrete extension.' From the decked roof garden, you can see to Liverpool and Manchester. Each floor is one room, all linked by a spiral staircase: a guest bedroom, then a library/study, a double-floor master bedroom with cantilevered en suite bathroom, and a 3.5metre-high winter lounge. This links to the extension, with the kitchen, dining room, utility room and summer lounge looking on to the garden, and the children's bedrooms. JULIAN Baker, the architect, says: 'It is a fantastic project, fusing a robust, traditional structure with a very contemporary extension.' Work began last June. Russell employed award-winning lighting designer, Kate Wilkins, and a feng shui expert. Russell says: 'I persuaded the telecoms people to install a high-tech device which lets us tap into their cooling apparatus, so we recycle their energy to heat our home. We have no heating bills.' The project is due to be completed in June - after five years and £450,000. Russell says: 'My original estimate of £75,000 was so far wrong. I've invested every penny, lived in a tiny rented house and sacrificed holidays. I wouldn't do it again. If anyone is considering doing this, I'd advise they do plenty of research and not let their heart rule their head.' |
| © 2001 - 2003 Russell Harris |