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Lighthouse Engine House
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, Caithness, Scotland, UK., KW1 4QT
ILLUSTRATION PAGE & PLAN DRAWINGS ETC
This is a summary page with a selection of photographs as requested by a prospective buyer. Any questions, please email: unique at uniquepropertybulletin. dot org
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
^^ Right Side of Photograph ^^
The Lighthouse Engine House had been used by the Earl of Caithness in the main part as CEO of the Charity until a Portacabin was obtained from which to organise the renovation of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe.
^^ Castle Sinclair Girnigoe: Foreground ^^
^^ Noss Head Lighthouse Engine House: Background ^^
PLEASE NOTE: TOWER NOT INCLUDED
he Lighthouse Engine House had been used by the Earl of Caithness in the main part as CEO of the Charity until a Portacabin was obtained from which to organise the renovation of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Photo from Engine House car parking area.
Shortly after buying the Noss Head Lighthouse Station (on 23rd May 2017), Russ McLean (director of Unique Property Bulletin Ltd., and Lighthouse Keeper’s Homes Ltd) was approached by senior management from the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). They asked to “borrow” an acre of land to store materials as they were about to renovate the lighthouse TOWER.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Photo Looking North Across Sinclair Bay
11pm At Night In Summer
It soon became clear that the logistics were not ideal for the NLB. So after consulting with shareholders, Russ McLean offered the Engine House as a “Welfare Unit” for Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) lighthouse personnel and contractors to shelter and make food and hot beverages when the weather deteriorated.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Previous Use As An Old Office For The
Clan Sinclair Trust
In other words you could sit on a normal sized chair to have lunch and be able to look out of any and all windows in this building to the most glorious of views…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Temporary Permission NLB Kitchen/Diner
(now removed by Irene Robinson)
The remedy to ensure good views from these highly level windows was to raise the floor.
With some lateral thought, we simply raised the internal floor by around 3 feet in extra height.
^^ A Relatively Simple Solution ^^
Ensuring Excellent Views From Windows.
The reduced room volume reduced heating costs.
Plus underfloor insulation reduced costs further.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
We were delighted to say thankyou to the Northern Lighthouse Board for selling these buildings which we now own. A way to do that was to make sure the NLB work crew “welfare unit” was supplied as per the NLB request.
^^ All Four Elevations Have Rooms With A View ^^
^^ Windows At Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Looking North Across Sinclair Bay
What became obvious during the temporary use by the Northern Lighthouse Board is this building could be configured to have a very useful life and was redolent with beautiful views from every window. However, the windows were very high off of the ground. Only giraffes could get a good view out of them. We have many puffins and seals ~ even several whales, but no giraffes. So what is the answer when even the tallest humans cannot reach the height needed to get a view out of the windows?
Even though this was a temporary permission, we did arrange for it to be properly insulated…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Temporary Use By Northern Lighthouse Board
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Gold Dust & Magic
The Book of Good Electricians + Plumbers
+ Roofers + Joiners + Glaziers + Builders
It is very important to note that we have two very good project managers and a full team of trades near to the Noss Head Lighthouse Station site.
=> This is very important IF you do not intend to project manage the conversion work yourself.
In 2017, it took us several painful weeks to find the right team to help with the renovation of Noss Head Lighthouse Station. But we persevered and are delighted to advise whoever buys the Lighthouse Engine House that IF they need some assistance in the conversion of this property, there is a local team headed by our Guardian Angel up in the far north…
^^ Steve Williams ^^
Has Saved Our Bacon Many Times
Any buyer who is looking at the Lighthouse Engine House may require some reassurance that they have a good team onsite. Steve will be able to show you three Grade A listed buildings and three properties within the environs of Grade A listed buildings. All of which have benefitted from Steve and various other team members and all of whom are keen to see the last building finished so that the WHOLE lighthouse station looks as it did many years ago when the original lighthouse keepers’ kept the place: Ship Shape & Bristol Fashion.
Just get in touch with Unique Property Bulletin and we can introduce you to a whole range of folk, from architects to project managers, electricians, and the whole spectrum you might need to transform the Lighthouse Engine House into your new 2-bedroom home.
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Back To The
Lighthouse Engine House Narrative
Now in 2022, this area and indeed the entire Lighthouse Engine House has been cleared and emptied with substantial demolition work undertaken well within one year, let alone the three years of the planning permission.
The clearance work was ostensibly to progress the planning permission and building warrant works. We are advised this in and of itself the demolition of the significant parts of the Lighthouse Engine House represents a “meaningful start”. That might be important as if you do extend your own “start” date beyond the 3 years commencing from the original permission dated 20 May 2020, you have what is now termed an “enduring permission”. One that without an end date. The “meaningful start” has crystallised that part of the planning consent in a good way for you..
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
As part of Irene Robinsons TEMPORARY ownership of the Lighthouse Engine House she arranged to rip all of the new work out in preparation for her planning permission adaptations.
This is what the Engine House building looks like now…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
The majority of surplus internal elements
have been removed from site.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Cleared of all material
(detritus and newbuild with insulation – all gone).
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Cleared of all material
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Cleared of all material.
In some ways we are saddened that the Lighthouse Engine House is not to be our Unique Property Bulletin headquarters.
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DRAFT TITLE LOCATION PLANS
Lighthouse Engine House
Including Plot 10
^^ DRAFT PLAN GUIDE FOR HM LAND REGISTRY ^^
.
Also has WAYLEAVE for septic tank at Plot 12
(Plot 12 available at £10,000)
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DRAFT INTERIOR PLANS
The Lighthouse Engine House has FULL Planning Permission & Building Warrants in place to cover the conversion into a detached two bedroom residential dwelling..
^^ Proposed Planning Permission ^^
As Granted
The OLD layout was as per this draft plan…
^^ Old Layout ^^
This is the current floorplan
awaiting builders to be brought onsite
Alternitives?
One enquiry was from a person who wished to know whether there could physically FIT TWO holiday letting properties within this structure.
The received wisdom is YES, subject to a REVISED planning permission…
^^ Alternate Planning Permission ^^
NOT yet given. Just for consideration of layout
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This page has a considerable amount of information and several photographs. Some of which may seem surplus to requirements. However, the nature of this matter may require information that a prospective Buyer would, in due course seek to obtain. It is the Seller’s view that in these circumstances it is better to have ample detail than insufficient.
For Sale
Lighthouse Engine House
£149,000.
Here is the Lighthouse Engine House. It has FULL Planning Permission to be converted into a 2 bedroom house. This was a detached utility building for generating electricity to light the lamp in the lighthouse tower. Since the National Grid, this building is no longer used. There was a problem wit the original planning permission in that the proposed septic tank was in a problematic location very close to the buildings. That has now been cured by the WAYLEAVE PERMISSION that allows the septic tank to be built several hundred yards away.
A genuinely unique property or, with a sense of bearing as you approach the main gate a quarter of a mile away…
^^ Noss Head Lighthouse Station ^^
Main Estate Gate
Lighthouse Engine House on Rightmove: Here
Please note, the tower is not for sale; neither is the house we sold to our neighbour.
Since buying this wonderful lighthouse station on 23rd May 2017 it has been the home of Unique Property Bulletin HQ. To be frank, given our first home 35 years ago on Davaar Island (here & here), the custodianship of Noss Head has pretty much been the Crown Jewels of our organisation. The decision to sell any of the buildings has been difficult.
A wonderful bonus are the Aurora Borealis treats in the winter months…
^^ Keeper’s Cabin ^^
Across Loch Mor during the solar flare season.
Photo Attribution: G. Mackie.
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Full Planning Permission Granted
To Convert Into A 2 Bed House.
Offers Over £149,000
Crucially this includes the wayleave rights to a new septic tank location (here). This is important as it purifies a planning condition that was hitherto a problem, but now via this piece of lateral thinking, it is solved. The result is this detached building, pictured to the right of the lighthouse tower, now had full planning permission and building warrants for conversion into a very comfortable 2 bedroom home with unique views to all four compass points, north, south, east and west…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
The Detached Building To The
Right of The Lighthouse Tower.
A definitive view of the detached Lighthouse Engine House can be seen here…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
^^ Photo Taken From Atop The Lighthouse Tower ^^
For a short summary description and estate agent
contact details as of August 2022…
Rightmove Lighthouse Engine House Page:
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Lighthouse Engine House
Fuller Set of Details +
Planning Permission Information
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
This Photo Is From The Top of The Lighthouse
The Engine House Is On The Right of The Picture
This fairly ordinary building is one of our all-time favourites because of its location.
All four sides of the Lighthouse Engine House have sublime views.
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Showing The Eastern Views
Towards Castle Girnigoe & Sinclair
As owners of the Noss Head Lighthouse Station since 23rd May 2017, we have been in the fortunate position of deciding which are our favourite buildings. Without doubt, and to our own surprise, these are the diminutive (now fully renovated) Keeper’s Cabin and the (yet to be renovated) Lighthouse Engine House. Hopefully the views from and also towards these buildings can give our readers the insight on why these two main buildings are our favourites…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Looking West. Perspective From
Castles Girnigoe and Sinclair.
As of 20 May 2020, the FULL planning Permission GRANTED for the Lighthouse Engine House allows for conversion to a 2 bed residential dwelling. There is ONE part of this PERMISSION we would RECOMMEND buyers consider CHANGING.
=> We strongly suggest that buyers of the Lighthouse Engine House consider RAISING the internal floor level around 2 feet 10 inches.
During our ownership, the Northern Lighthouse Board asked for and were granted a temporary “welfare unit” in our Engine House. We were very happy to give them rent free use of our Lighthouse Engine House. For many years this building had lain under-used as its original function, generating electricity for the lighthouse tower beam had ended. In recent years this building had been reduced to a dumping ground for all sorts of bits and pieces which “might” prove useful one day!
^^ Unique Property Bulletin HQ Plaque ^^
A New Plaque Adorns The New Office…
Here is a ground level view of the Lighthouse Engine House…
^^ Lighthouse Engine House ^^
Pictured right of centre in the photo above
Full Planning Permission
& Building Warrant Detail
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Rightmove Agency Details
Click Here
Offers Over £149,000
TEXT: 0779 134 2742
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BONUS PROPERTY…
Pirates Cove
Possible Cliff House
This Project Has No Planning Permission: Yet
Offers Over £15,000.
^^ The Pirates Cove ^^
Noss Head Lighthouse Station
We had originally placed this ADDITONAL plot of land for sale at £15,000. However, the six phone calls we have had about the Engine House in the first week ALL asked if the VERY BIG GARDEN could be included. By that they meant this large piece of land outlined in blue ink in the Land Registry based cadastral mapping plan.
=> We believe the fairest thing is to give first refusal of the Pirates Cove to whoever buys the Lighthouse Engine House.
This extra Pirates Cove land fits in very well with the current Engine House building plot.
To give you an idea of the layout of these buildings, here is a drone video that was taken shortly after we bought the lighthouse station on 23rd May 2017…
^^ Video Film ^^
^^ Noss Head Lighthouse Station ^^
^^ Before Renovations ^^
P.S. The old caravan is now gone.
The Lighthouse Engine House is being prepared for a fresh coat of Northern Lighthouse brand paint from ourselves as a courtesy and present for whoever does eventually buy this unique building.
Any Questions…
TEL/TEXT: 0779 134 2742
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Rightmove Details
Lighthouse Engine House
Keeper’s Cabin & Also Lot 15
At: Noss Head Lighthouse Station,
Wick, Caithness, KW1 4QT.
Head Title: CTH5579.
From Which Subsidiary Titles 11 & 15 Are Distilled Off.
^^ Lot 10 ^^
This is being ADDED to the Engine House to ensure guaranteed access in perpetuity to the Engine House.
This DRAFT plan is based on HM Land Registry Registers of Scotland title CTH5579. It requires to be shown to buyer “SK” to ensure she is content with the boundaries.
NLB Tower Before Renovation
^^ Noss Head Lighthouse Tower ^^
“Before,” “During” & “After” Renovations Work.
^^ Very Subtle ^^
^^ Can You See The Difference ^^
^^ Between The Renovated Tower & ^^
The NON-Renovated Keepers’ Building on The Left
^^ Noss Head Lighthouse Tower ^^
& Private Owner Accommodation “After” Renovations Work.
Frequently, some of the NLB crew would stay at the site over weekends and deploy their encyclopaedic skills to the private buildings.
The end result was appreciated by the Northern Lighthouse Board as Noss Head is:-
=> One of the few sites where the NLB Tower buildings and the (now) privately owned former keepers’ houses have all been renovated at the same time.
The Northern Lighthouse Board Asked For
A Joint Photo To Celebrate
ALL Buildings Being Renovated Together
This matters because many lighthouse stations have a time difference between the NLB and the privately owned parts being renovated. The disappointing result is that at any given time, half of each lighthouse station looks fresh and ship-shape, whilst the other half looks shoddy and tired.
Background Information
Finally for this page,
^^ Keeper’s Cabin: To The Right of Photo ^^
Noss Head Lighthouse Station
In addition,etting on a plane next week and coming all the way to Scotland to make an inspection and likely a cash offer on the Lighthouse Engine House.
Keeper’s Cabin
Remote Viewing Video Film
^^^ Interior Video: Keeper’s Cabin ^^^
Noss Head Lighthouse Station
Escaping From Coviddy-Cities Is Affordable!
Offers Over £119,000. Details on Rightmove…
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Sinclair Bay View
Here is a photograph taken from atop the actual lighthouse tower. To the right, it is possible to gain some perspective of what Plot 15 looks like in real life, as opposed to a map screenshot…
^^ Plot 15 To The Right ^^
Here are some photos of Sinclair Bay to give an idea of what Plot 15 overlooks. Though most of these are taken from the long beach towards Noss Head Lighthouse Station ad Plot 15……
^^ Sinclair Bay ^^
Looking Towards Noss Lighthouse Station & Directly At Plot 15
^^ Sinclair Bay ^^
Looking Westward Along The Coast
Towards Noss Lighthouse Station & Directly At Plot 15
^^ Sinclair Bay ^^
This Photo Has Plot 15 To The Left
& Sinclair Girnigoe Castle To The Centre.
^^ Sinclair Bay ^^
The Far North In Summer Is Still Light At 10pm At Night.
^^ On The Way To Plot 15 ^^
The Private Road Passes Lochmor.
^^ On The Way To Plot 15 ^^
Another 11pm Picture In The Long Daylight Days of Summer
^^ On The Way To Plot 15 ^^
In The Winter, Noss Head Has Spectacular Views of
The Aurora Borealis.
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Last For This Page
Credentials Relating To The Charity