North Essex Heritage - Jumbo Water Tower - Business Planner and Development Appraisal Procurement

Colchester's Balkerne Water Tower, affectionately known as 'Jumbo', is the largest Victorian municipal water tower in England. Completed in 1883, it is grade II* listed, and maintained its original use until 1984. It has local significance as a beacon of Colchester standing tall on the skyline, and national significance as the last remaining listed water tower still intact, a testament to the feat of Victorian engineering that brought a public water supply to the masses.

Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust's (North Essex Heritage) mission is to save Jumbo from dereliction and see it removed from the Buildings At Risk register, producing a commercially viable operation that opens access to the public allowing all to appreciate the engineering marvel and superb views. It will bring the magnificent Balkerne Water Tower back into use, creatively converting it to provide a fully accessible heritage visitor attraction for the city, combined with complementary commercial uses to add to revenue to achieve financial sustainability for the long-term future.

The project has been successful in securing Development funding from the Towns Deal and NLHF Heritage Enterprise scheme. This funding is to be used to prove the viability of the project, and provide confidence in the ability of the Trust and partners to deliver this project.

North Essex Heritage is now seeking to separately appoint the following roles to support the development of the project:

• A Business Planner to work with the Trust to explore the operational model and business plan for Jumbo, preparing a NLHF compliant Business Plan for Round Two submission, and remaining with the project through Delivery and into Operation to provide guidance and updates to the Business Plan so it remains a live working document. Total life of contract anticipated to be a 5 year period. Total value of commission is in the region of £40,000.
• Development Appraisal that meets the requirements of the NLHF Heritage Enterprise funding regime, undertaking the valuation of the building and calculating the conservation deficit, as well as working with the Business Planner to establish the viability of different operating models. Appointment will be for 9 months and value of commission is £15,000.