The oldest surviving railway building in York could be set for a new lease of life under new plans.
Network Rail wants to convert the York Water Tower, off Queen Street near York Station, converted into a practice space for the York Railway Institute Band.
The application says the band’s current rehearsal space will be demolished when the front of York Station is redeveloped.
The structure, which was built in 1839, would be refurbished after falling into a state of disrepair, says the planning application.
The Grade II-listed single-storey brick building has a 5,000 gallon cast iron water tank on its roof.
The ground floor stored coke for refuelling trains when the building was in operation.
It also features a lantern light above the room proposed for the band’s practice space that would be refurbished as part of the conversion.
Another room in the building is set to be let out as a commercial unit.
The building was part of a temporary railway station used by the York and North Midland Railway Company in 1840 to 1841 while the city’s first station was being built.
It was later extended when the surrounding area was used for locomotive works and it housed a foundry, foreman’s office and coppersmith by the late 19th century.
The building’s Historic England listing entry stated it was not only one of the oldest surviving railway structures in York but also in the UK.
Plans stated it could also perhaps be the oldest surviving railway water tower in the world.
They added existing features on inside and outside of the building would be replaced like-for-like where possible.
The roof in the north east part of the building which is set to house the band’s practice room would also be repaired and it would be acoustically ventilated.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.