SDL Bigwood’s May auction got off to a flying start when the very first lot sold for 220 per cent of its guide price.

The Cottage, Spirehouse Lane, in Blackwell near Bromsgrove achieved £275,000 from a guide price of £125,000.

Gurpreet Bassi, partner and head of auctions Midlands, said that set the tone for the day in the 124 auction that totalled just under £9.2 million with a success rate of 85 per cent.

The auction saw 100 per cent of lots offered on behalf of Birmingham City Council sold and the story was the same for all of the lots offered on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.

Land adjacent to Couchman Road, Saltley, Birmingham, sold for £207,000 from a guide price of £80,000 (258 per cent over guide price).

A one bedroomed flat with vacant possession in 26 Salisbury Close, Moseley, sold for £86,000 from a guide price of £22,000 (390 per cent).

Land at 51 Hazewell Street, Stirchley, Birmingham, sold for £126,000 from a guide price of £30,000 (420 per cent).

And these results were reflected throughout the auction held in The Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC.

Gurpreet Bassi said: “Despite local elections on the day, the saleroom was packed and we had a great sale. Everyone at SDL Auctions Bigwood and many of our vendors are very pleased with the results achieved.

“SDL Auctions Graham Penny also held an auction in Nottingham on the same day which raised £2.4 million with a success rate of 60 per cent.

“This means we raised a total of £11.5 million over the two auctions.”

As well as Midlands lots, the auction saw 11 properties in the north east and Grimsby sold and all ground rents and garages offered were also sold.