For Sale
Former Lighthouse Engineer’s Rooms
Suitable To Convert Into A Residential Flat
(subject to planning permission)
Offers Over: £59,000.
This is a useful set of rooms within the accommodation block of the lighthouse station. These (foremr engineer/workshop) rooms are an ideal candidate for conversion into a modest, diminutive ground floor apartment (subject to planning permission).
Over the coming days and weeks we will be uploading examples of FOUR cases at former Northern Lighthouse Board compounds where a set of rooms such as these HAVE all received a successful planning permission. We have found both local authority planners and the listed building authorities very helpful to folk who make an effort to keep these lighthouse station accommodation units (and sections that are ideal for residential conversion) in good condition.
The logic being that by serving an appropriate and suitable new use, segments such as the former engineering rooms we will picture (below) are often in a “tired” condition and not helping with the viability of the condition of the whole set of lighthouse station buildings.
Our abiding impression from the planning authorities and listed building officials is that they prefer to see the lighthouse buildings to be well maintained.
=> So, when the local planners grant a reasonable and well presented change of use application, everyone is better off, and the lighthouse buildings are brought back to a useful life.
One of our main purposes over the past 39 years of lighthouse life has been to stop the ruination to lighthouse buildings from happening.
Sadly, when a lighthouse station does become derelict then we make best efforts to find a solution to make good the damage. This is why, on another project, we are registering a new charity…
“The Lighthouse Preservation Trust”
This will have core aim to acquire and restore iconic lighthouse stations such as…
1]. Neist Point Lighthouse Station. Beautiful from afar: click here. But distressingly ruinous up close: click here.
2]. Ailsa Craig Island Lighthouse Station. Beautiful from afar: click here. Again, distressingly ruinous up close: click here.
Both of these examples and many more in England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are in urgent need of restoration and we shall be remedying that. More of the “Lighthouse Preservation Trust” charity in full detail later.
Ideally, we aim to acquire lighthouse stations BEFORE they get anywhere near to ruinous condition. Since 1984/85, most of our restorations have been on a break-even basis and with the good fortune of having private funds to deploy in the renovation process.
But there are, unfortunately some lighthouse stations such as Neist Point and separately, Ailsa Craig Island that are no longer viable to renovate via private ownership. Hence the decision this year and after discussions with colleagues and the charities commission, to establish and register the: “Lighthouse Preservation Trust.”
Focussing back on the Engineering Rooms and that we are selling at Tod Head Lighthouse Station: if you would like some guidance from our cases where we have obtained planning permission approval to convert rooms such as the set on this page at Tod Head Lighthouse Station, please check back regularly.
^^ Tod Head Lighthouse Station ^^
This Is Where These Engineer’s Rooms Are Located
It may also be of help to you, that your neighbour in Flat-3 upstairs at Tod Head Lighthouse Station (here) has project managed the renovation of 28 lighthouse buildings during a 39 year career and also helped others, pro bono (here) with their efforts to restore lighthouse stations to the former glory of those years when lighthouse keepers’ lived at each station and kept them maintained to the highest standards.
Moving onto what is for sale here just now…
Tod Head Engineer’s Rooms
(ideal for conversion to a residential apartment)
(subject to planning permission)
Offers Over £59,000
^^ Engineer’s Rooms At Tod Head Lighthouse Station ^^
This plan has been draw in good faith to assist buyers in getting their perspective and bearings. Though buyers MUST make their own enquiries to ensure the information they are studying is correct (please do not scale these plans).
Here is an example of what our past experience indicates is possible..
^^ A Suggested Layout ^^
^^ For Conversion of The Engineer’s Rooms ^^
Though if you are unfamiliar with change of use and planning + building regulations along with listed building consents, then architect is worth their weight in gold. The upstairs footprint is marginally bigger than downstairs (the part we have for sale). But you can see that it is possible to get all the rooms expected of a one-bedroom lighthouse located home into the Engineer’s Rooms by comparing the first-floor flat directly above: click here.
^^ Tod Head Lighthouse Engineer’s Rooms ^^
These Are Being Sold: “As Is”
Offers Over: £59,000.
It will become apparent with the successful planning permissions and completed conversion projects to very nice lighthouse homes that we will be featuring in these pages in the coming days and weeks, that architects specialising in lighthouse buildings recommended in these very pages, along with photographs of how a measure of professional architectural help, plus your own input, can bring about a very good result for you and for the lighthouse buildings.
The current buildings (as at May/June 2024) are as they were when the owner from 1988 bought the Tod Head Lighthouse Station. The rooms are being steadily cleared of of 36 years of spare material stored here. The current owner believes in storing “spare” items at either a Castlecroft Keepsafe Storage units (here) or local storage unit facility to Tod Head at the Taylors Auctioneer’s facility (here). Surely it is better to store bits of long-lost furniture offsite, when there is a very useful et of rooms that you could convert and enjoy as your new home at this location…
These “Engineer’s Rooms at Tod Head Lighthouse Station are prime real-estate. This is a magnificent location at which to live. Especially when you realise that a couple of bays north is a picturesque and very friendly place to engage in recreational boating and sailing…
If you do purchase a boat to go with your new Lighthouse Home at Tod Head, then little further past, or sailing from Catterline Harbour is a very famous castle that is well worth a visit…
If you take your boat to Dunnottar Castle, then it is a very short hop further on to the picturesque harbour town of Stonehaven and a nice cup of coffee plus very fresh fish supper…
Coming back from a sail, or motor boat adventure, you can easily find your new home..
^^ Tod Head Lighthouse Station, DD10 0TH ^^
So if you are…
Curious About Living At A Lighthouse Station?
This is what Tod Head Engineer’s rooms look like just now. Please note, there is a LOT of fun transforming this type of property into something very special…
Tod Head Lighthouse Station, DD10 0TH
These look very unkempt without much potential…
Tod Head Lighthouse Station, DD10 0TH
It is apt that one room has the official title of “Mess Room!”
The looks of these rooms are particularly dispiriting (until you see what they can be transformed into.
Tod Head Lighthouse Station, DD10 0TH
^^ The Middle Room ^^
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THIS NEXT SEGMENT IS AN EXAMPLE FROM A DIFFERENT LIGHTHOUSE STATION….
IT IS UP AT NOSS HEAD 5 HOURS DRIVE NORTH FROM OUR TOD HEAD LIGHTHOUSE STATION.
WE HAVE INCLUDED THIS EXAMPLE FROM ANOTHER LIGHTHOUSE STATION TO SHOW WHAT SIMILAR ROOMS CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO…
AND ALSO, THE OFFICIAL COUNCIL PLANNING DEPARTMENT PLANNERS SAID…
“YES” and gave us FULL Planning Permission.
This EXAMPLE from the far north gives a precedent that might be worth studying if you are considering buying the Tod Heat Engineer’s Rooms.
Here Is An Example of
A LIGHTHOUSE CONVERSION MADE GOOD
Noss Head Lighthouse
Keeper’s Cabin
220 Miles North of Tod Head Lighthouses
(Distance Map: Here)
If we can manage this transformation, we reckon most other folk can too.
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
^^ NOT Tod Head But Far Worse Noss Head ^^
Noss Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Bothy
A bedsit with toilet you had to CLIMB OVER to reach the shower.
Heaven forbid someone left the toilet seat UP!
You’d end up with a foot covered in eau de la toilette and back into the shower for you poo-toes.
This is 220 miles NORTH of Tod Head Engineer’s Rooms and just one example of how an old set of rooms can be made into a very cosy home.
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
^^ Noss Head : The Old Bothy ^^
You Would Bang Your Head
& Get Concussion From The Wall
Using This W.C
Before we complete this page, here is an Old Bothy we owned near John O’Groats at Noss Head Lighthouse Station. It is a SIX hour drive NORTH from the Tod Head Lighthouse Engine Rooms.
Tod Head is only 1 hour from Dundee Airport and/or Railway Station and far better located.
With respect to the FAR NORTH Noss Head Lighthouse Station, that looked (and was) far worse than Tod Head Engineer’s Rooms.
Noss Head Bothy was very damp and mouldy. At least Tod Head Engineer’s Rooms are relatively dry and without damp/mould to the extent of the FAR NORTH Bothy we converted…
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
^^ Noss Head Bothy ^^
^^ This Building Was Smaller Than ^^
^^ Tod Head Engineer’s Rooms ^^
But after a fair amount of work and a lot of this insulation (well worth the effort)…
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
^^ Noss Head Bothy ^^
The external transformation was visibly noticeable…
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
^^ Noss Head Bothy ^^
This is after we had renovated the buildings at the FAR NORTHERN Noss Head Lighthouse Station. None too shabby.
Here is the INTERIOR of the NOSS HEAD BOTY after we had renovated (and insulated) the building. Please consider the awful cramped and damp picture of this Old Bothy at Noss Head Lighthouse Station in the FAR NORTH and imagine, from this video, what you could do with the Engineer’s Rooms at the TOD HEAD Lighthouse Station.
For the avoidance of doubt, this video is of NOSS HEAD BOTHY AFTER it had been renovated…
Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT
W
We have included this example of a transformation that a few spare rooms can undergo.
This video was our far northern lighthouse at Noss Head.
=> In case you re wondering why the move 6 hours south to Tod Head Lighthouse Station?
Rather than end up with the nightmare ruination of iconic lighthouse buildings at stations such as Ailsa Craig Island and also Neist Point Lighthouse Stations, we have found over the past 39 years, that the planners and listed building staff are keen to work with the owners and custodians of these iconic historic buildings. They do this in a way that preserves and maintains these important elements of our nautical heritage.
Mutual help and respect is logical really, as when owners and planners do not work together, then this sort of tragic situation happens…
Example: Ailsa Craig: Derelict Lighthouse Buildings
Not For Sale: Just An Example of What Can Go Wrong
When Lighthouse Buildings Are Neglected
The Ruined Ailsa Craig Lighthouse Buildings Are A National Disgrace
This Ailsa Craig Station is NOT For Sale
We Picture This As An Example of
Failure To Look After Lighthouse Buildings.
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Our Aim Is To Avoid Another Ailsa Craig Lighthouse Ruin
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Hence…
The Engineer’s Rooms For Sale
At A Very Competitive
Guide of £59,000-
The reason is that our Managing Director is well overdue a second bout of spinal surgery. Much though he loves Noss Head Lighthouse Station in the far north, after the first spinal surgery, he needed 6 to 9 months to learn how to walk again and fully recover (well 80% recover).
So he has bought Flat-3 (above the Engineer’s Rooms) at Tod Head so as to be near family in the county of Angus.
Under any other circumstances, we would renovate the Engineer’s Rooms and convert them into a very comfortable modest home.
But with our managing director out of commission, we have decided to sell the Engineer’s Rooms at Tod Head to someone with the vision + ability + get~up~and~go to recognise the potential at Tod Head and complete the change of use and renovation themselves (or at least the project management of that change themselves).
Tod Head Lighthouse
Engineer’s Rooms.
Offers Over: £59,000.
To Bid on Gumtree…
Click Here
For viewings and any questions, please feel free to get in touch…
Click Here
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Front Page
Click Here
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News Update: New Charity
“The Lighthouse Preservation Trust“
Historically, our endeavours across the past 39 years have brought together a much appreciated group of friends and fellow lighthouse eccentrics on a private funding basis.
All of our lighthouse friends have been crucial in ensuring the buildings at/by Davaar Island Lighthouse Station + Ailsa Craig Island Lighthouse Station (we sold in habitable condition in 2001) + Strathy Point Lighthouse Station + Noss Head Lighthouse Station + Tod Head Lighthouse Station are left in better condition at the end of each stewardship than when first acquired.
The skillset and community of lighthouse restoration folk and also high-quality GLA specified building materials over the past four decades will, we trust, help with the current renovation at Tod Head Lighthouse Station (private ownership) and with the establishment of the new “Lighthouse Preservation Trust” charitable organisation, then renovations required at iconic sites such as Neist Point and Ailsa Craig will commence soon (Ailsa Craig is to be bought back from the current owner (all noted: click here)).
