Every Birmingham City Council property sold since budget cuts were approved following bankruptcy

As it looks to tackle its financial woes, the cash-strapped council has sold several properties in three recent auctions held by Bond Wolfe.

Some of the lots which have gone under the hammer include a former children’s home, a single-storey shop in Sparkhill and a three-storey premises comprising a cultural centre and office.

In total, the amount sold at the past three Bond Wolfe auctions, held in September, July and May, comes to nearly £5 million. 

The city council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt last year, has found itself dealing with Birmingham-specific problems, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as other issues such as the rising demand for services and funding cuts.

Here’s a look at what council lots were sold in the past few months.

September 12 – £523k

Three Birmingham City Council lots sold for a combined total of £523,000 during an auction this month.

This included 8 Bullock Street in the Nechells area (freehold interest), which sold for £177,000 – £107,000 more than its guide price.

Meanwhile 155 Dollman Street, Saltley (freehold interest) sold for £229,000 while 253-255 Great Lister Street in the Nechells area (freehold interest) sold for £117,000.

July 11 – £2.13m

In July, a freehold two-storey detached former children’s home was sold at auction for £585,000.

The site in 55 Stevens Avenue may be suitable for redevelopment, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents in Birmingham.

Another lot was for 334 Stratford Road in Sparkhill, a single storey shop with an aluminium-framed shop front and flat roof on the corner of Walford Road.

The freehold commercial investment property was sold for £303,000.

The other lots, and how much they went for, were:

• 105 Saltley Road in Saltley, freehold interest (£36,000)
• 29 Inkerman Street in Nechells, freehold interest (£102,000)
• 140 Hockley Hill in Hockley, freehold interest (£116,000)
• 448 Stratford Road in Sparkhill, freehold commercial investment property (£550,000)
• 9 Whitmore Road in Small Heath, freehold commercial investment property (£300,000)
• 32 New John Street West, freehold interest (£61,000)
• 34 New John Street West, freehold interest (£74,000)

May 16 – £2.29m

One lot during May’s auction was for 241-243 Dudley Road, a premises comprising a retail shop premises with residential accommodation over, situated on the A457 Dudley Road.

The commercial investment property had a guide price of £200,000 plus but ended up going for £372,000.

Another lot was for 235 Dudley Road, a three-storey premises comprising a cultural centre and office on the A457 Dudley Road.

This commercial investment property was sold for £365,000.

The other lots, and how much they went for, were:

• Land and premises at 86 Hospital Street and Buckingham Street, freehold Interest (£610,000)
• Land fronting Great Barr Street, freehold land (£402,000)
• 1177 Coventry Road/Redhill Road in Hay Mills, freehold interest (£210,000)
• 94 Cato Street in Nechells, freehold interest (£78,000)
• 92 Cato Street in Nechells, freehold interest (£78,000)
• Land and building at Coventry Road in Solihull, freehold land and detached building (£176,000)