One of the most recognisable homes ever featured on Grand Designs has returned to the market, with an asking price of £2.75million — around £4million below the figure once attached to the property.
The landmark Victorian water tower in Kennington, south London, was transformed from a derelict shell into a remarkable ten-storey residence offering panoramic views across the capital.
Its ambitious makeover featured in the 100th episode of Channel 4’s long-running property series, quickly becoming one of the programme’s most memorable and widely discussed renovations.
Property developer Leigh Osborne and his partner, Graham Voce, invested more than £2million converting the crumbling 100ft structure into a luxury home, despite initially being told the work could be completed for about £600,000.
The restoration required 4,000 replacement bricks and the installation of 47 windows. Workers also removed more than 200 dead pigeons, while clearing bird droppings piled ‘knee-deep’ cost a further £7,000.
The bespoke glazing alone came to an estimated £250,000, with scaffolding adding another £70,000 to the already escalating construction bill.
London’s ‘most recognisable’ home has hit the property market after it was featured on Grand Designs
A derelict water tower in Kennington was converted into an incredible ten-storey des-res on the 100th episode of the Channel 4 show
A view of the terrace, fitted with lounge chairs and a hot tub, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, London Eye and the Shard
Businessman Jamie Hamer purchased the house for £2.75million in June 2021. He is seen here with his friend Susanna Citrano
As the budget continued to soar, Osborne borrowed more than £500,000 from friends to bring the extraordinary conversion to completion.
The finished home includes a huge glass-fronted cube extension, a lift and a dramatic viewing room at the top of its 122 steps. Host Kevin McCloud hailed the result as a ‘jaw-dropping showstopper’.
Bought by Osborne and Voce for £380,000 in mid-2011, the property has been advertised on Rightmove with an asking price reported at £2.5million, while other details put the current figure at £2.75million.
The sales listing describes the distinctive building as ‘one of central London’s most recognisable buildings’.
Even with its architectural appeal and Grand Designs celebrity, the latest valuation is dramatically lower than the £6.5million price sought by its original developers in 2013.
That asking price failed to attract a buyer, and the tower was subsequently offered as a popular Airbnb before businessman Jamie Hamer acquired it in June 2021 for £2.5million.
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Hamer, a commercial director, moved in with his friend Susanna Citrano, an architect, and their two dogs. He later said the property’s television fame continued to draw curious visitors to the front door.
Speaking to Rightmove in 2022, he said: ‘We often get people ringing the doorbell asking if they can take a look around.
‘Then some will ask where the buzzers for the other flats are. They’re surprised to find out it’s one home.’
He also told the Evening Standard: ‘I have always been fascinated by castles and this is the closest I’ll get to owning one in central London.’
Mr Hamer and Susanna later added a hot tub to the terrace, which provides views of the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, the Shard, the City and Canary Wharf.
Susanna previously joked: ‘When we first moved in, we could never find each other so would WhatsApp, “Which floor are you on?”‘
She added: ‘We ended up putting different pieces of art on each stairwell so we knew where we were, as we kept getting lost.’
The tower, which dates from 1867, originally served the neighbouring Lambeth Workhouse and contained a tank which held 38,000 gallons of water.
Among those who spent time there was a young Charlie Chaplin, who stayed at the workhouse with his impoverished mother as a child.
The property, now being marketed by DDRE Global, is arranged with five bedrooms and four bathrooms across its many levels.
The estate agents said in the sales blurb: ‘Rescued from dereliction and converted under the eye of Kevin McCloud for Grand Designs’ 100th episode, it is now a remarkable family-sized home that pairs Victorian engineering with contemporary design.
The home’s previous owners Leigh Osborne and his partner, Graham Voce, with Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud (right)
‘The accommodation unfolds vertically, linked by an original Yorkstone staircase and a separate lift tower with glazed bridges. Five double bedrooms and four bathrooms are arranged across the tower’s floors, each with its own character, thick masonry walls and tall arched windows.
‘At ground level, a glass and steel extension known as the Cube provides lateral living space. It holds an open-plan kitchen and reception room with full-height sliding glass doors, and a roof terrace sits above.
‘The crowning feature is the Prospect Room, created within the original cast-iron water tank. With openings on every side, it frames panoramic views across Westminster, the London Eye, the City, the Shard and Canary Wharf, making it a living or dining space without equal in the capital.’
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