From Water Pressure to Penthouse? Plans Submitted for Winshill Water Tower

If you’ve ever approached Burton from a distance, chances are you’ve spotted it.

Standing tall on one of Burton's highest points - known locally as Waterloo Clump - the Water Tower has been part of Burton’s skyline since 1907. For well over a century, it has watched over the town. Now, it could be about to start a very different chapter.

Plans have been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council to transform the former water tower into a single, rather luxurious residential home.

A tower born from a water row

The tower itself came about following a High Court ruling in 1907, after a local resident, Harry Mills Barrow, complained about poor water-supply pressure. The solution? Build a water tower at one of the highest points in Burton - and Waterloo Clump was chosen.

It did its job for decades, helping regulate water pressure across the town. However, by the 1990s it stopped pumping water and has since mainly been used as a radio tower.

Even today, thanks to its height and prominent position, it remains one of the most recognisable landmarks in Burton. It’s one of those buildings that quietly says, “You’re nearly home.”

What’s being proposed?

According to the planning application, the proposal is:

 

Change of use from a water tower into 1no. residential dwelling with roof terrace, demolition of three outbuildings to facilitate the erection of two storey rear extension with balcony and single storey garage extension.

 

The submitted designs show plans for:

• Five bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and dressing room

• A home office

• A lift (a sensible addition given the height of the building)

• A roof terrace with panoramic views across Burton

• A two-storey rear extension and new garage

It would certainly be one of the most distinctive homes in the borough - and with those views, it’s not hard to imagine it becoming a sought-after address if approved.

What about wildlife?

There has been some local discussion about whether bats might be roosting in the tower.

An independent ecology report dated September 2024 - submitted as part of the planning application - found no evidence of bats roosting in the water tower or its external buildings at that time.

However, the report also makes clear that bats are highly mobile and can change roost sites throughout the year. If bats are found on site at any point before or after works begin, all work must stop and advice must be sought from a suitably qualified ecologist.

What happens next?

The application will now be considered through the usual planning process.

For many Burton residents, the Water Tower is more than just brick and mortar - it’s a familiar part of the skyline and a quiet reminder of the town’s industrial ingenuity.

Whether it remains a landmark you admire from afar or becomes someone’s very exclusive front door remains to be seen. Either way, it’s another fascinating twist in the story of one of Burton’s most recognisable buildings.