An iconic water tower is set to undergo a transformation if plans for a face-lift are approved – and it’s going grey.

Tesco has submitted proposals to Medway Council for the tower in Rainham to be repainted, including fresh branding on the front and back.

The supermarket chain is hoping for approval to give the giant tower, which is found in the superstore’s car park and close to the petrol station, a fresh coat of paint.

It is in need of some care with green marks visible from the top of the tower. If given the go ahead, it will switch from its well-known white to a new grey colour.

The site, in Courteney Road, Rainham, can be seen from the A2 and was previously occupied by Bowaters – a paper company which required large quantities of water for its production process.

The roundabout is known as the Bowaters Roundabout because of this but is now often referred to as the Tesco Roundabout.

In 2011, the water tower was repainted after the Tesco store was refurbished.

Former Bowaters apprentice Derrick Waters reminisced about the water tower, commenting: “I served my apprenticeship at Bowaters from 1963-1968, and climbed up that tower once there was a ladder inside. You could hear the water sloshing about.”

While Andy McBride added: “Back in the days of the CB radios it was always known as the Big Blue Onion – so glad it still remains a landmark to a small piece of ever diminishing Rainham that I remember as a kid.”