Birmingham City Council successfully raised close to £500,000 through recent property auctions, though not all listed assets found buyers.
Among the standout sales was a freehold building in Harborne housing a Chinese takeaway, which fetched £316,000 – significantly exceeding the £250,000 asking price. This two-storey property includes a residential flat on its upper floor and generates an annual income of £12,250.
Another notable sale in Harborne was a single-storey retail unit with a current gross income of £3,500 per year, which sold for £170,000 against an expected price of around £150,000. This unit covers approximately 42 square meters (452 square feet).
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However, not all properties met success. The former Skilts School on Gorcott Hill in Beoley, near Redditch, was listed with a guide price exceeding £1.4 million but failed to sell. This substantial freehold property, previously used as a special school catering to children with emotional, social, and behavioural difficulties, boasts multiple buildings including a site manager’s house, two residential blocks, and a gymnasium. Its future use may involve redevelopment subject to planning consent.
Other unsold properties include a single-storey retail unit on Harborne Park Road, formerly a pet shop, which did not meet its £150,000 plus asking price. Additionally, a two-storey industrial unit in Sparkhill, currently leased as mixed manufacturing and office space, was withdrawn from the auction. This property covers roughly 749 square meters (8,062 square feet) and is let on a full repairing and insuring lease for a term commencing July 2025.
The council’s property sales activity highlights a mixed market, with some assets drawing competitive bids while others await the right conditions or buyers to move forward.