Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to deliver Colchester’s ‘Jumbo’ regeneration

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects has been appointed to lead the restoration of the largest surviving Victorian municipal water tower in England.

The Balkerne Water Tower in Colchester, known locally as ‘Jumbo’, will receive an overhaul as part of a package of works to revive the Grade II* listed building which was decommissioned in 1984.

Once completed, the tower will become a fully accessible destination venue with visitor experience and historical interpretation spaces.  

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects’ industry-leading heritage sector expertise and experience working on listed buildings will be key in retaining the tower’s historical attributes. Construction dates back to 1882 and was built using about 1.25 million bricks and 142 tonnes of cast iron.

The project has been commissioned by North Essex Heritage, who secured a 150-year lease on the building in 2021, and has backing from UK Government Funding, Colchester City Council, Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

Pre-construction work is due to start on-site early July 2025, ahead of main construction work beginning in December 2025.

Mike Coleman, Operations Director, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to help bring a much-loved asset of industrial heritage and part of Colchester’s rich history back into public use for the residents and visitors.

“Our team will be able to call upon years of experience in the heritage sector, leveraging traditional skills to retain the tower’s charm and character while bringing it up to the standards required of a modern-day attraction.”

Jason Lowe, Project Director, North Essex Heritage, said: “We are pleased to be joining forces with Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to deliver this remarkable heritage scheme. We look forward to working with a partner who understands what Jumbo means to Colchester and the importance of putting the community at the heart of what we do. Together we will transform this heritage icon to inspire, engage and serve the local community”.

Simon Hall DL MBE, Chair of North Essex Heritage, a charity and building preservation trust, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to lead the transformation of this unique heritage asset. Working alongside our Project Director and other experts, including Purcell and Focus Consultants, their expertise will help us ensure the future of this historic building.

“The importance of Jumbo both locally and nationally cannot be overstated. Newly restored, thanks to National Lottery players and other funders, Jumbo will be a highly visible exemplar of historic building conservation and creative heritage reuse, contributing to Colchester’s wider economic regeneration.”

Zoë Skelding, Conservation Architect and Partner, Purcell, said: “We look forward to working with the Special Projects team at Sir Robert McAlpine, drawing upon their extensive expertise and track record of delivering complex and historic projects, to conserve and revitalise Jumbo Water Tower.”