One of the oldest surviving railway water towers in the world is set to get a new lease of life after having fallen into a state of disrepair.

The grade II listed structure complete with a 5,000-gallon water tank, is York’s oldest serving piece of railway infrastructure.

Built in 1839, its job was to supply water for steam engines that hauled trains to and from York’s first railway station during and after its construction.

Having fallen into disrepair in recent years, planning permission has been submitted to and approved by the City of York Council for the building to be restored and turned into a brass band rehearsal venue for the Railway Institute Band.

The water tower sits on the site of the York station frontage transformation project, part of a £25m scheme that aims to improve the access and appearance of the front of York station and other smaller buildings in the vicinity while creating a welcoming environment and a more flowing transport interchange.

For work to begin on the restoration of this water tower, the railway band’s current rehearsal space next door will need to be demolished.

The new facilities will include a kitchen, instrument storage area and disabled access toilet. A second building will also be built alongside a unit to let for potential tenants.

“This Queen Street site was historically associated with the development of the railways and is now a focus of educational, sporting and recreational activities associated with the York RI, so this site is well-suited to re-house the band practice room.

The water tower is of considerable historical interest. It is currently in a poor condition but it’s a striking building and can still have a big future.

Providing the band room here means they won’t have to move very far at all, while also preserving an important piece of York’s railway heritage.”

Mike Stancliffe, Network Rail principal development manager

Restoring former railway buildings into other uses such as housing and events spaces is nothing new, last year the water tower at Keighley on the Keighley and worth valley railway was turned into a visitor centre. While other pieces of former railway infrastructure have also been turned into homes, museums and events venues.