The Aporia · Couple turn £380,000 Victorian water tower into luxury home, now back on sale for £2.75 million

Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce turned a dilapidated Grade II-listed Victorian water tower in Kennington, south London, into a luxury home after purchasing it for £380,000 in 2011. They spent approximately £2 million on repairs and modern additions over two years, transforming the abandoned structure into a five-bedroom house that was featured on Grand Designs. Currently back on the market following its previous sale in 2021 for around £2.5 million, the property now lists for £2.75 million.

Written by AI on 2026-10-19, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

A Grade II-listed Victorian water tower in Kennington, south London, originally featured in the 100th episode of Channel 4's Grand Designs, is back on sale for £2.75 million after being sold once before for £2.5 million. Property developers Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce bought the crumbling landmark in 2011 for £380,000 and spent around £2 million over two years to convert it into a luxury five-bedroom home with sweeping views of London's skyline, despite initial estimates suggesting costs would be only around £600,000. The renovation included replacing 4,000 bricks, fitting 47 windows, removing more than 200 dead pigeons, and clearing "knee-deep" bird droppings at a cost of £7,000. Additional costs for glazing alone reached £250,000, while scaffolding added another £70,000 to the total bill. The property's current listing on Rightmove marks its third attempt at sale since 2018 when it was initially priced up to £6.5 million.

Written for “Grand Designs Home For Sale” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Grand Designs Home For Sale

Entertainment · 3 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

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Famous Grand Designs home in London on the market for £2.75m after staggering price cut Same event

Evening Standard

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 64/100

One of the most iconic Grand Designs homes could be yours for just £2.75million... (almost £4m less than the original asking price) Different event

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“The articles discuss different phases of the water tower's sale process.”

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A Grade II-listed Victorian water tower that featured in a memorable episode of Channel 4's Grand Designs is back on the market for £2.75 million after previously selling for £2.5 million. asserted

that → list → million

Located in Kennington, south London, the 10-storey landmark was bought in 2011 for £380,000 by partners Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce. asserted

landmark → locate → partners

Over the next two years, they spent around £2 million on major repairs and modern additions to turn the abandoned structure into a luxury five-bedroom home. asserted

they → spend → home

The transformation featured in the 100th episode of Grand Designs in 2012, hosted by Kevin McCloud. asserted

transformation → feature → McCloud

After putting the finished property up for sale for as much as £6.5 million in 2018, the owners gradually lowered the asking price. asserted

owners → put → price

They eventually sold the unusual home in 2021 for around £2.5 million. asserted

They → sell → million

The property has now returned to the market, with estate agents listing it for £2.75 million. asserted

agents → return → million

When Osborne and Voce bought the 1867 water tower, it was in very poor condition. asserted

it → buy → condition

The building was filled with pigeon droppings, crumbling brickwork and rotting timber. asserted

building → fill → droppings

The couple first expected to spend around £600,000 on the restoration. asserted

couple → expect → restoration

However, structural problems and changes to their ambitious design pushed the cost up to nearly £2 million. asserted

problems → push → million

To cover the rising expenses, the owners stretched their finances to the limit. asserted

owners → cover → limit

They used several personal loans and credit cards to pay for the work. asserted

They → use → work

The renovation included adding a multi-storey glass extension, nicknamed "The Cube", at the base of the tower. asserted

renovation → include → tower

It created a large, modern living space beneath the original brick structure. asserted

It → create → structure

At the top, the tower's historic cast-iron water tank was turned into a main bedroom suite with 360-degree views across London's skyline. asserted

tank → turn → skyline

The 100-foot-tall tower has a long history. asserted

tower → have → history

It was built in 1867 to supply water to the Lambeth Workhouse. asserted

It → build → Workhouse

The surrounding grounds were also linked to the childhood of famous comedy actor Charlie Chaplin, who lived at the workhouse with his mother during the late 19th century. asserted

who → surround → century

The updated property covers more than 4,000 square feet across several floors, connected by an internal lift and a central staircase. asserted

property → update → lift

Key features of the conversion include: - A living and dining room with glass walls inside the modern ground-floor extension. - Five bedrooms and four bathrooms spread across the main tower. - A top-floor viewing room and an outdoor rooftop terrace with clear views of landmarks such as Big Ben and the Shard. - Original exposed brickwork combined with energy-efficient, triple-glazed windows. asserted

bedrooms → include → windows

After the project was completed in 2012, the property first went on sale in 2018 with an asking price of £6.5 million. asserted

property → complete → million

However, it failed to attract a buyer at that price. asserted

it → fail → price

The owners reduced the asking price several times over the next three years. asserted

owners → reduce → years

In mid-2021, buyer Jamie Hamer purchased the property for around £2.5 million. asserted

Hamer → purchase → million

At the time, Hamer said the top-floor viewing area and views of central London made the home feel like owning a private castle. asserted

home → say → castle

Recent listings from estate agencies including The Modern House and Foxtons show that the Kennington water tower is back on the market with a guide price of £2,750,000. asserted

tower → include → 2,750,000

The agencies' listings highlight its rare status as a Zone 1 architectural landmark that combines Victorian engineering with modern luxury interiors. asserted

that → highlight → interiors

Couple turn £380,000 Victorian water tower into luxury home, now back on sale for £2.75 million

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