'One of the most exciting properties in years' is on the open market in Guernsey, blending Swiss Family Robinson with Bond villain style
The Lookout is a former mill set above its own lake that is aching to be turned into one of the most iconic homes in the Channel Island.
Nick Paluch of Savills is excited. The reason? A house called The Lookout, with what the agent describes as 'the most extensive views in Guernsey.'
‘The Lookout is one of the most exciting properties I have been involved with in recent years,' says Nick. 'Opportunities of this nature simply do not come to the market.' So let's take a look at what's got him so pumped up.
As its name implies, The Lookout — which is for sale at £2.95 million — is based around a striking 66ft high tower. Originally a, 19th-century granite mill, it's set in just over 2¼ acres of grounds near Bordeaux Harbour, on the north-eastern corner of the island.
The views are fantastic, naturally, but just as exciting as the tower and millhouse is the lake — created from an former quarry — that's included, giving rise to all sorts of possibilities for the new owners, and a series of CGI pictures on the listing show images of people happily paddleboarding and so forth.
No doubt you've already spotted the catch, courtesy of those three letters C, G and I. The Lookout hasn't yet become a home of any sort, much less one with a handsome timber deck from which to paddleboard. It's very much a work in progress, rather than a finished-and-finalised contemporary home.
The fact that it hasn't been done yet does also mean that there is, subject to planning approval, flexibility for the new owners. The agent and vendor have very much leaned in to that, supplying a host of examples of what could be don here: there are terraces, bridges, walkways, stairs and jetties that give the whole thing a sort of Swiss Family Robinson vibe. And also something of a Bond villain vibe.
That's not to say that the place is a starting-from-scratch job, for extensive work has taken place already at The Lookout to get the ball rolling, in terms of the site and existing buildings. But this is absolutely a project for a new owner blessed with both vision and deep pockets.
The Lookout as it looks today.
Formerly known as Vale Mill, the Lookout was originally built from wood in 1770, before being rebuilt in 1854 in granite. It operated as a flour mill until the Germans occupied the island in 1940, whereupon they used it as an observation tower (hence, The Lookout). It was purchased by James Ridout’s father in 2008, and James has been restoring the site ever since.
Rooftop terrace, anyone? The top of the tower is surely crying out for something.
James has also secured planning permission for the renovation and extension, and managed to get the house on Guernsey's Open Market (meaning it can be bought by anybody with UK residency, rather than just Guernsey residents).
The prize at the end of all the work done by the new owner will be a home with about 7,000sq ft of accommodation, together with a triple garage and a floating summerhouse.
If dealing with the headaches of getting that done sounds a bit too much like taking on a second job, James is offering the option of a full-build contract, subject to separate negotiations.
‘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 says.
The planning permission (secured in 2020) is for a four-bedroom house, featuring a kitchen/dining area, utility room, and breakfast room, as well as a substantial basement extension that would cantilever out over the adjoining quarry. Surely you would need an underground tunnel of some kind to connect the two, in true Bond-villain style? Don’t worry, it’s already been planned. Ernst Stavro Blofeld would be proud.
The proposed basement extension and cantilever, which runs out onto the quarry lake.
‘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,' James adds.
'They’re the best in Guernsey. You can see out to sea for miles around.’
