It’s the kind of project that would make Kevin McCloud purr with pleasure.

After 50 years of service and ten more standing idle, this former pumping station is up for sale and ripe for renovation.

Plans have already been approved to transform the red-bricked industrial building in Ixworth into a luxurious four bedroom home – complete with terraces that overlook two acres of land, the river Lark and neighbouring Micklemere Nature Reserve.

Alex Duchesne, of Bury St Edmunds branch of estate agents Bedfords, said: “It was originally owned by Anglian Water before it was bought by the current owner. It’s now got planning permission to be converted into a residential home.

“In terms of who is going to buy it, your guess is as good as mine, somebody who wants to do a grand design really. It’s got modern planning for additions on the back, it will be spectacular, but it needs someone who wants to create their own space.

He added: “When you build a new house, they always lack that character and charm that you can’t ever buy and the only way you can get it is by using an old building. So this is a project for someone who wants to retain that and manage it.”

Mr Duchesne said the opportunities to buy such an unusual property – valued at £234,000 including VAT – were “very rare”.

He added: “We get the odd water tower that come along, but they rarely come up. So when they do, they attract a huge amount of interest. For some people it is too much work because in a sense you are starting from scratch, but when it’s done it will look lovely.”

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