Savills has been instructed to sell Guernsey’s historic Vale Mill.
The mid-19th century stone tower is set to become one of the first properties to be added to the island’s Open Market register under new laws that were passed last year.
The 21-metre building on Hougue du Moulin in Vale is on Guernsey’s protected building register and has been granted an ‘Inscription in Principle’ under the ‘exceptional circumstances’ section of the legislation due to its historical significance – the first property to qualify under that section of the new law.
It will be fully inscribed on Part A of the Open Market register once the development is completed in line with approved planning permissions.
The States of Guernsey Planning Service has previously given the green light for the property to be turned into a six-floor four-bedroom home – complete with an observation deck, underground extension, terrace, garaging, floating sunroom and walkways around its adjoining quarry.
Savills provided consultancy advice during the Open Market application process and has been instructed to sell Vale Mill when it launches to the market later this year.
Anyone who holds a British or Irish passport or who has the right to live in the UK can buy or rent an Open Market property. There are no wealth tests or assessments and no need for an employment permit.
Residential director Nick Paluch said: “It’s a very exciting instruction and one that we’re delighted to be involved in.
“Vale Mill promises to be a landmark property of the highest quality – something that’s unique to the Open Market and offering exactly the sort of diversity that’s needed if the island is to continue to attract new investment.”
The original structure of Vale Mill was built in 1770 out of wood, before being rebuilt in granite 84 years later. It operated as a flour windmill until the German occupation of 1940, when it was used as an observation tower. It was gifted to the States of Guernsey in 1968 and sold for private ownership in 2008.
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 water-filled quarry.
The top two former German observation levels would be used for possible office or entertaining areas.
The cantilevered extension would be constructed within the rock face of the quarry, built with masonry to match along with large windows opening onto a balcony deck.
It would be connected to the mill by an underground link, which will run under the driveway between the mill and the quarry. There are also plans for a walkway from the main house towards a floating summer house.
James Ridout, director of Vale Mill Limited, has been restoring the property to make it fit for habitation and to prepare the site for further development. The works have included repointing the stonework of the mill and ensuring the structure is wind and water tight.
“The Part A inscription is an important step in securing the future of what is a hugely important building for Guernsey’s history,” James said. “Without it, further investment was simply unviable and there was a risk the building would once again fall into disrepair and potentially be permanently lost.
“We believe the Open Market listing will attract the level of investment needed to ensure the exciting plans for Vale Mill can come to fruition – safeguarding a historically and culturally important building for future generations and creating a modern state-of-the-art home of which Guernsey can be proud.”
Last year Guernsey’s government approved changes with the aim of improving the quality and sensitively increasing the number of Part A Open Market inscriptions.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, vice-president of the Committee for Housing, said: “Our committee was very pleased to award an inscription in principle to this proposed development.
“The recent introduction of the new Open Market Part A inscription policy provides a number of tools to use Open Market inscriptions to encourage the development of homes and to preserve buildings that form part of our historic and cultural heritage.
"The award of this inscription in principle should help bring the significant investment that a property of this unique nature requires."
Jason Green, senior partner at law firm Collas Crill, was also involved in the Open Market application process.
"Rightly so, the application process for ‘exceptional circumstance’ properties imposes a high level of rigour to ensure that only those unique properties are going to obtain the inscription,” he said.
“Vale Mill fits the bill. It is a truly remarkable property with an interesting history. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with James and he has done a super job of creating an amazing vision which once developed will see a unique building having a new purpose.”