Penthouse plans for water tower revealed

An historic Birmingham landmark could become home to a rooftop penthouse and three luxury apartments after it was purchased at recent auction.

The listed former water tower, which was built in 1902 and previously formed part of Selly Oak Hospital, already has planning permission for conversion into three apartments.

But the new owners are now looking into adding a glass penthouse on the roof of the property.

Talwinder Singh bought the tower in partnership with his brother-in-law Gurpreet Singh for £238,000 at Bond Wolfe Auctions’ sale at Villa Park earlier this month, where it had appeared with a guide price of £100,000.

Singh said: “We are thrilled to have purchased such a beautiful building and plan to start work on it very soon to convert it into residential use.

“We bought it with the knowledge that it already has planning permission for three luxury apartments to attract premium rental incomes, and we may well go ahead with that – but we might have a plan to seek extra permission for a glass penthouse on the rooftop.

“I’m going to discuss this option with my architect and if he thinks this is possible we would then ask the council for planning to build a penthouse for our own personal use, as the family loved it.

“Prices are very high in Selly Oak and we believe we have acquired the tower at an excellent price which makes it possible for us to invest into creating properties that will bring good rental revenue as well as a great property for ourselves.”

He added: “Once we know our exact plans, we expect to start work this year – we don’t want to waste any time.”

Singh is an Oldbury businessman who owns Mobile Extra, while his brother-in-law Gurpreet Singh, of Walsall, runs Style Your Mobile – both companies importing mobile phone accessories.

Gurpreet Bassi, chief executive at Bond Wolfe Auctions, said that Selly Oak Hospital’s water tower was built at the turn of the 20th century as a new entrance to what was then a workhouse, but that it had laid dormant since the closure of the old hospital.

He said: “We’re delighted to see new owners who are determined to bring new life to the old building, a project that will make a superb residential property for the thriving area of Selly Oak.

“This was one of the star properties at what was a highly successful auction, and we look forward to bringing many more interesting properties under the hammer at our future auctions.”