Works will get £1m makeover treatment

WITH its smashed windows and exposed wires, it’s hard to imagine how a run-down water treatment works can be turned into a luxury £1m home.

But Zak Patel paints a convincing picture of his ‘Grand Design’ – a six-bedroom family home complete with sauna, gym, entertainment centre and swimming pool.

Zak was recently granted permission to change the disused sewage works off Scopsley Lane, Whitley, into a three-storey dream home.

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Members of the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee recently gave the go-ahead to Zak to develop the disused site, which looks out onto the picturesque countryside around Howroyd Beck.

The building has more than 20,000 square feet of floor space, and plans for the house also include a prayer room, a home cinema and rooftop mini-golf.

Zak, 40, purchased the three acre site from Yorkshire Water two years ago for £95,000, but believes the cost of renovation will be much greater.

“We are looking at spending at least £500,000 on the renovation,” he said, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if it rises to a million.

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“I have been looking into doing something like this for a while, and now the opportunity has come about, me and my family are really excited about it.”

Despite his ambitions to renovate the existing structure, Zak plans to do away with the building’s three imposing turbines and open up the area to green belt land.

A proud Dewsbury lad, Zak grew up on Parker Road in Thornhill Lees, and struck it lucky in business six years ago when he became one of the first franchises for mobile phone company O2. He now owns 10 shops in the Yorkshire area, including the O2 store in South Street, Dewsbury.

Despite his success in business, Zak has stayed true to his roots, and has ambitions to move himself, wife, Nazmeen, 26, and son, Eisa, three, into the property sooner rather than later.

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He said: “It’s probably too late to start work on this site this year, but we definitely want to get started by next year – with any luck, the place should be finished in about three years’ time.

“I’m pleased that the council are supporting ideas like mine – it is ambitious, but after they had a look at the site, they obviously saw the same potential I did.”

There has also been interest from Channel 4 programme Restoration Man – its research team contacted him recently about the possibility of his project appearing on the show.

Zak believes that the attention given to his forthcoming renovation could help paint the town in a positive light.

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He said: “I think this can be something positive for Dewsbury.”

“Over the past few years, the town has been in the press for the wrong reasons and I think it will be really good for the local economy, and I would really like to make positive things happen for the people of Dewsbury.”