Strong Demand for Cornwall Properties at December Auction

A wide range of property lots across Cornwall attracted strong interest at the December auction held by Clive Emson Auctioneers, with several selling well above their guide prices.

The auction featured 167 lots in total and included garages, land, commercial buildings and residential properties across the county.

Penryn garages more than double guide

📷Garages at Tremoughdale, Penryn

Fourteen lock up garages and their forecourt in Penryn, placed for auction by Cornwall Council, sold for £79,000. The freehold guide price had been set at £35,000 plus.

Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said:
“These lock-up garages proved extremely popular at auction.
“The new owner may wish to use them in their current guise following refurbishment or explore potential re-development, subject to all the necessary consents.
“Lock-up garages regularly appear at auction and in this case delivered a strong return for the vendor, Cornwall Council.”

Nearby, land at Kernick Business Park in Parkengue also exceeded expectations. The 0.04 hectare parcel, also sold on behalf of Cornwall Council, rose from a £500 plus guide to a sale price of £24,000.

📷 Land off Kernick Business Park, Parkengue, Penryn

Town centre properties find buyers after auction

In Liskeard, a commercial property in the pedestrianised section of Fore Street was listed with a freehold guide of £60,000 plus. While it did not sell during the auction, an offer was made afterwards and accepted by the vendor.

📷Fore Street, Liskeard

James said:
“Occasionally offers are made for lots after the auction ends, which are then put to the vendor.
“In this case, the offer was accepted. The new owner has acquired a substantial property that is well located in Liskeard town centre.
“It comes with planning permission for conversion of part of the ground floor and the upper floors into a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation, whilst retaining retail space on the ground floor.
“The new owner now has the option of following the planning permission or may have other schemes in mind, subject to the necessary consents.”

A commercial property on Fore Street in St Austell also sold after the auction. The two storey building had a guide of £50,000 plus, with an approach made and accepted once the auction had concluded.

📷Fore Street, St Austell

Waterfront land attracts intense interest

A former car park at Lighthouse Hill in Portreath proved one of the most popular lots. The 2.38 hectare waterfront site, close to Portreath beach, sold for £136,000 after 55 bids. Its guide price had been between £50,000 and £75,000.

📷Land at Lighthouse Hill, Portreath

James said:
“This waterfront site generated considerable interest.
“The new owner may wish to gain a return on their investment through continued use of the site as a car park or may have other projects in mind, subject to the necessary consents.”

In Falmouth, a detached former office building on Tregullow Road sold for £48,000, doubling its guide of £20,000 to £25,000.

📷Former Office Tregullow Road, Falmouth

Camborne flats draw strong demand

A house divided into two flats on Roskear Road in Camborne sold for £213,000, exceeding its freehold guide of £185,000 plus.

📷Roskear Road, Camborne

Senior Auction Appraiser Katie Semmens said:
“Bidders clearly recognised the opportunity to acquire an attractive substantial house which has been informally split into two self-contained flats.
“The property requires updating throughout and sits on generous sized grounds where the new owner may see potential for development, subject to the necessary consents.”

The ground floor flat has two bedrooms, while the first floor apartment includes three bedrooms and an attic room.

Planning permission boosts St Erth sale

📷The Vestry Rooms, St Erth

The Vestry Rooms on Fore Street in St Erth sold for £60,000. The former office building was sold with planning permission and Listed Building consent for conversion into a dwelling house.

James said:
“The Vestry was sold with the benefit of planning permission and associated Listed Building consent for change of use from a community office building to a dwelling house and alterations.
“The new owner now has the opportunity to follow the planning permission to create a family home, whether for occupation, letting or resale back on the market.
“Alternatively, it offers continued office use, or they may have other schemes in mind subject to the necessary consents.”

Investment properties and garages continue to perform

📷Scorrier Street, St Day

Two flats in St Day sold for £83,000, exceeding their £70,000 plus guide. The Scorrier Street properties had previously been fully let at £14,400 per year.

Katie said:
“These flats were previously fully let at £14,400 per annum and would be a good fit for the local rental market following updating.”

In Torpoint, nine lock up garages in Roberts Avenue sold for £43,000 after 55 bids, having started at £12,500.

James added:
“Lock-up garages regularly come to auction and attract keen bidding.
“The new owner of this row in Torpoint has the option of letting them out in their current guise although they may have other uses in mind by virtue of the garages’ location in a residential area, subject to the necessary consents.”

📷Torpoint garages

Next auction dates confirmed

Clive Emson Auctioneers’ next auction concludes on 11th February, with bidding live from 48 hours beforehand. Lot entries close on 16th January, and the catalogue will be available online from 21st January.

More details can be found on the Clive Emson Auctioneers website, with West Country properties listed here.