Going, going, gone!

A disused concrete water tower – which was described as a “development opportunity” with a guide price of just £4,000 – has a proud new owner following fierce bidding.

The concrete structure at Bar Lane, Flockton, confounded expectations at the auction held in Leeds by property agent Eddisons when it sold for an incredible £110,000.

Now the wait is on to discover if the water tower undergoes a “Grand Designs” type makeover as featured in the popular TV series fronted by Kevin McCloud.

Glenn Levison, associate director at Eddisons, said: “We sell quite a few of these – but this one generated a lot of interest.”

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The unnamed buyer is thought to be interested in converting the water tower for residential use.

Mr Levison said: “We were pleasantly surprised by the level of interest. These things are notoriously difficult to price, but after a week or two of marketing it, we knew we had a lot of interest.

Said Mr Levison: “Generally speaking, these unusual properties tend to generate interest from members of the public as well as developers and professional property people.

Water tower on Barnsley Road, Flockton, for sale by auction.

“People look at television programmes such as Grand Designs and want to create something unique – although they are not without difficulties in terms of planning consent and doing the work.”

Mr Levison said the location of the tower – close to the M1 and within easy commuting distance of Huddersfield, Wakefield and Leeds – had also added to its attraction.

The water tower was among more than 60 included in the auction by property agent Eddisons.

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When it first came on the market, Huddersfield architect Mark Lee - who converted a former water tank into his own home at Hall Bower - described the tower as “fantastic looking” and said: “It has bags of potential. It could be a superb, iconic residential building.”

Mark said: “Subject to planning permission the tower offers a wonderful opportunity to design a fabulous house ‘in the round’.

“Punched windows in the existing concrete structure and a new storey with a circle of glass above would allow an amazing view for miles around. Living in a round house is great fun, quirky, individual and certainly good for publicity but it does have it’s own challenges, like paying for things to be curved.”

Other lots finding favour with buyers included Wainwright Hall, a former council building at Jepson Lane, Elland, which sold for £186,000 off a guide price of £60,000 to £65,000 and the Grade II listed George & Mead Hall at Parkside, Cleckheaton, which went under the hammer for £214,000 – close to its guide price of £200,000.