Russell Harris and his wife Jannette are listing their converted Victorian water tower in Lymm, Cheshire, for £3 million. The Grade II listed property was transformed over seven years from a derelict structure into a luxury residence.
From a £138,000 purchase to a £3 million listing
The financial trajectory of the Lymm Water Tower serves as a case study in high-risk, high-reward architectural investment. According to the report, Russell Harris and Jannette Harris originally acquired the abandoned 19th-century structure in 1997 for just £138,000. This initial acquisition was followed by a grueling seven-year renovation process and an investment exceeding £1 million to make the building habitable .
This transition from a derelict shell to a multi-million pound asset reflects a broader trend of "trophy home" conversions, where historic industrial or utility buildings are reimagined as luxury estates. By blending the original stone masonry with a sweeping modern extension, the Harrises created a property that appeals to a niche market of buyers seeking both heritage and contemporary luxury in the affluent Cheshire region.
The £75,000 annual windfall from telecommunications leases
Unlike most residential properties, the Lymm Water Tower functions as a hybrid asset by generating significant commercial revenue. The report says that telecommunications companies lease a small area high within the tower, providing the owners with a passive income of approximately £75,000 per year.
This income stream effectively subsidizes the cost of maintaining a Grade II listed building, which typically carries high overheads. For a prospective buyer, this guaranteed revenue transforms the £3 million asking price from a pure luxury expenditure into a strategic investment with an established yield.
Kevin McCloud’s top 100 and the 90ft architectural feat
The property's design has earned it significant prestige within the architectural community. While the Lymm Water Tower never appeared on the Channel 4 series Grand Designs, its creator, Russell Harris, saw the project selected by host Kevin McCloud as one of his top 100 projects. The transformation was further publicized in a 15-part UKTV series titled Seven-Year Makeover.
The scale of the residence is immense, offering more than 6,000 square feet of living space across five storeys. The interior includes high-end amenities such as a cinema room, a gym, a sauna, and a double-height main bedroom, illustrating how the 90ft-tall verticality of the original tower was utilized to maximize luxury accommodation.
A rooftop hot tub 26 metres above the M6
The crowning feature of the residence is a private roof garden situated 26 metres above ground level. Accessible via an original spiral staircase, this terrace features an eight-person hot tub and provides 360-degree views of the Cheshire countryside, as well as the skylines of Manchester and Liverpool, the Peak District, and the Welsh hills.
Russell Harris previously highlighted the psychological contrast of the location, noting the tranquility of the elevated terrace while observing the stationary traffic of the M6 motorway below. This juxtaposition of rural peace and urban proximity is a key selling point for the Lymm Water Tower, positioning it as a sanctuary within reach of major Northern English hubs.
Why the 2016 sale at £2.5 million collapsed
Despite its accolades, the Lymm Water Tower has struggled to find a buyer in the past. According to the sales listing on Rightmove, the property was previously listed in 2016 for £2.5 million, but the deal collapsed, leading the Harrises to withdraw it from the market.
This previous failure raises specific questions about the liquidity of such a unique asset. It remains unclear whether the 2016 collapse was due to the specific buyer's financing or a broader hesitation toward the property's unconventional layout. Additionally, the source does not specify if the current £3 million valuation is based on a new independent appraisal or the owners' desire to capitalize on the current luxury market.
Comments 0