A former windmill once repurposed as a Second World War lookout tower is up for sale.
The historic property – standing at 69ft tall – is available with a guide price of £2.95m.
Situated in the parish of Vale, on the island of Guernsey, it is available through the island’s open market, meaning it can be bought by anyone with a British passport or the right to reside in the UK.
The Lookout (formerly known as Vale Mill) was the first property to be added to Guernsey’s open market under a new ‘exceptional circumstances’ rule agreed last year.
Planning permission has been granted to turn the property into a six-floor, four-bedroom home complete with observation deck, terrace, and walkways around an adjoining water-filled quarry, as reported by Luxury Property News.
James Ridout, director of Vale Mill Limited, whose father bought the property at auction in 2008 with a business partner, has restored The Lookout to prepare the site for further development.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work and perseverance to get to this point – and it’s not been without its challenges – but we’re now in a position where we feel the mill and surrounding site are ready to be taken to the next stage,” James said.
“The open market listing is hugely important and will hopefully attract the level of investment needed to ensure the exciting plans for the mill can come to fruition – preserving a historically and culturally important building and creating a modern state-of-the-art home of which Guernsey can be proud.
“There’s nothing like it on the island. It’s a one-of-a-kind property and the views from the top of the tower are beyond compare. They’re the best in Guernsey. You can see out to sea for miles around.”
Planning permission was granted in 2020 for conversion of the mill into a four-bedroom home with a kitchen/dining area, utility room and breakfast room along with a substantial basement extension, cantilevering out over the quarry.
The top two former German observation levels would be used for possible office or entertaining areas.
Nick Paluch, director in the residential sales team at Savills in Guernsey, said: “The Lookout promises to be a landmark property – something that’s unique to the open market and offering exactly the sort of diversity that’s needed if Guernsey is to continue to attract new investment.
“It’s an iconic building that can be seen across the island and a real opportunity for someone to create a ‘Grand Designs’-style home of the highest quality.
“Guernsey continues to be a popular destination for would-be buyers and we have seen strong levels of activity since the start of the year.
“The beautiful scenery and outdoor lifestyle are complemented by a growing reputation as a centre of excellence for business and finance, together with a strong community feel, some excellent schools, low crime rates and favourable tax regime.”
The property is for sale through Savills.
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