Bids Soar Across Cornwall: Offices, Cottages and Land Sell At Auction

Properties across Cornwall have changed hands for well above their guide prices after competitive bidding at the first auction of 2026 by Clive Emson Auctioneers.

A total of 177 lots were listed in the sale, with strong interest reported in a number of West Country properties.

Former St John Ambulance Offices Sell Above Guide

📷Former St John Ambulance Building in Penzance

In Penzance town centre, former St John Ambulance offices in Guildhall Road were in demand. The detached property had a freehold guide price of £95,000 plus but sold for £122,000 when the auctioneer’s gavel fell.

The building comes with a car park which is let out on a 10 year lease from March 2025 at an annual rent of £5,750.

Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “There was keen interest in this substantial detached property in Penzance town centre.

“It was most recently used as a probation office by St John Ambulance but offers a number of options to the new owner, clearly including some form of residential development subject to all of the necessary consents.”

Elsewhere in Penzance, a two bedroom terraced cottage in Chyandour Place with a freehold guide of £100,000 plus sold after the auction. It was auctioned in arrangement with Andrew Exelby Estate Agents.

📷Chyandour Place, Penzance

‘Chocolate Box’ Cottage and Sea View Land Attract Bidders

A detached property described as a ‘chocolate box’ cottage, Larkspur Cottage in Germoe Lane, Germoe, fetched £250,000 freehold.

Senior Auction Appraiser Katie Semmens said: “The new owner has acquired a well-presented, spacious and charming three-bedroom detached, partially thatched cottage.

“It sits on good sized and well maintained grounds including a variety of outbuildings and benefits from a private drive with ample parking.”

Larkspur Cottage was auctioned in arrangement with Christophers Estate Agents.

In Newlyn, a parcel of land with sea views next to Gurnick Estate sold for £22,200, four times its freehold guide of £5,000 plus. The parcel measures 0.04 hectares or 0.11 acres.

📷Land Adj Gurnick Estate, Newlyn

Katie said: “There was keen interest in this lot.

“Its fabulous views over Newlyn harbour, Mounts Bay and beyond to St Michael’s Mount would have been among the attractions to bidders.

“Its location at the end of a pleasant residential cul-de-sac offers the new owner potential for a variety of different uses, subject to all the necessary consents.”

Land on the north side of Penpons Close, Alverton, sold for £12,250, well above its freehold guide of £1,500 to £2,000. The walled enclosure, nestled among housing, was auctioned on the instructions of Cornwall Council.

📷Land, Penpons Close, Penzance

Coach House and Land in Demand in West Cornwall

In Consols, St Ives, a detached coach house with four self contained garages sold for £209,000. Meneth Gwyns had a freehold guide price of £195,000 plus.

Auction Appraiser Steve Appleby said: “Bidders recognised the potential of Meneth Gwyns.

“The new owner may wish to capitalise on opportunities to increase the current footprint and create further independent living accommodation or they may have other schemes in mind, subject to all the necessary consents.

“The property’s three lock-up garages below, with a fourth attached to the side, have all been previously let and offer income potential for the new owner too.”

📷Meneth Gwyns, Consols, St Ives

Land off Trencrom Lane in Carbis Bay, placed for auction by Cornwall Council, also proved popular. A site where a WC block was formerly located sold for £10,200, more than 10 times its freehold guide of £1,000 plus.

📷Land off Trencrom Lane, Carbis Bay

In Treloweth Terrace, Park Bottom near Redruth, a two bedroom cottage sold for £115,000 freehold. Listed with a guide of £105,000 plus, it was auctioned in arrangement with MAP Estate Agents.

📷Treloweth Terrace, Park Bottom, Redruth

73 Bids for Commercial Site Near St Austell

📷Communication Centre, Par

A large commercial unit near St Austell attracted 73 separate bids before selling for £392,000.

The Communication Centre in Par Moor Road, Par, had a freehold guide price of £300,000 to £350,000. The property extends to more than half a hectare and includes offices, warehouses, storage spaces, parking at the front and a large area of hardstanding at the rear.

Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “There was a great deal of interest in this large and versatile commercial property.

“Its mix of offices, warehouses and storage spaces attracted the attention of bidders along with its location in an established trading position on Par Moor Road, about three miles east of St Austell.

“The site may offer future potential for a range of alternative uses including residential development, subject to all the necessary consents.”

In Liskeard town centre, a three storey freehold commercial unit in Pike Street sold for £50,000 against a guide of £47,500 plus. It offers potential for residential conversion to the first and second floors, subject to the necessary consents.

📷Commercial unit, Pike Street, Liskeard

Freehold land in Castle View Street, St Stephens, Saltash, measuring about 0.02 hectares or 0.04 acres, sold for £2,250. It had been listed with a guide of £1,500 plus and was sold on the instructions of Cornwall Council.

📷Land adj Castle View, Saltash

A strip of freehold land on the west side of Mount Road in Par, measuring about 0.04 hectares or 0.10 acres, was sold with a nil reserve and fetched £10. It was also placed at auction by Cornwall Council.

📷Land in Mount Road, Par

Clive Emson Auctioneers stages eight auctions each year and was established in 1989 by founder and chairman Clive Emson. The firm has 50 staff and operates across southern England, from Kent to Cornwall, including Essex and North and East London.

The next auction concludes on 26th March, with bidding live from 48 hours beforehand. Lot entries close on 2nd March and the catalogue will be online from 5th March.

More details can be found at https://www.cliveemson.co.uk and West Country properties are listed at https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/west-country/.