Bidding war as Sussex smallholding sells for £855,000 at auction

An auction bidding war led to a smallholding and land near Hailsham to sell for £855,000 at auction this week. (thurs 15 june)

 

Bolneys Farm, in South Road, finally went under the gavel after sustained bidding in the latest auction held by one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK, Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers.

The property generated almost seven times the freehold guide price at the 140-lot auction which ended on Thursday 15 June.

The property, a smallholding plus nine acres of land with potential, is currently let on a six-monthly licence and produces £1,000 per annum.

Senior Auction Appraiser and Auctioneer Richard Payne said: “This was an incredible auction with competitive bidding driving up the price.

“We have ended with an excellent result for the vendor and the buyer has acquired a property which was particularly wanted.

“We knew the property had the potential for a variety of uses, subject to all necessary planning consents being obtainable, of course, and our bidders certainly recognised this.

“I shall be very interested to see what transpires at this smallholding with various brick built agricultural buildings and land extending to 3.68 hectares (9.09 acres).”

The property is situated just off South Road (A295), adjacent to the A22, with the comprehensive shopping facilities and amenities of Hailsham town centre easily accessible.

It is located between Eastbourne and Uckfield and there are excellent road links to all surrounding areas via the nearby A22 and A27.

The accommodation includes three brick-built agricultural buildings suitable for livestock and storage and a corrugated barn suitable for vehicle storage. There is a concrete driveway for access plus land extending to 3.5 hectares (8.8 acres) for grazing and pasture.

It is of irregular shape and is part sloping with an electricity pylon and partly bordered by mature trees.

 

A former primary school and land with potential near Heathfield (East Sussex) went under the auctioneer’s gavel for £662,000 after a bidding war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etchingham Primary School, Burgh Hill, Etchingham, offered under instructions from East Sussex County Council, exceeded the upper freehold guide price by more than £200.

Richard added: “This one really flew. Sustained bidding drove up the price, resulting in a great outcome for the vendor, while our purchaser has acquired a property with huge potential.

“We had long considered this substantial detached property, part single-storey, part two-storey, suitable for development, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable, and the competitive bidding showed others agreed.”

Situated in an elevated position on a site extending to 0.25 hectares (0.64 acres), the property is located on Burgh Hill just off the A265 close to the junction of the A21 close to the village of Etchingham.

It is in the heart of the High Weald between Hawkhurst and Burwash with excellent road links to all surrounding areas.

Etchingham Primary School, which originally opened in 1864, moved to a bigger, modern site at Parsonage Croft, High Street, Etchingham in 2015.

 

Offered as a separate lot, also under instructions from East Sussex County Council, the former school’s parking area located opposite the school in Burgh Hill, was sold for £72,000, almost three times the freehold guide..

The former amenity land site, extending to 0.10 hectares (0.26 acres) and with two vehicular accesses, was considered to have potential for future development, subject to obtaining all necessary consents being obtainable.

The site is on sloping land with a gravel surface, a driveway and dropped kerbs at either end and provides parking facilities for multiple vehicles.

 

A mixed-use property needing complete refurbishment near Brighton seafront was sold after a bidding war.

Currently vacant, 8-9 Kings Road went under the auctioneer’s gavel this week at £444,000 after being offered under instructions from Brighton City Council.

The East Sussex property, close the city's famous Lanes, is a bay-fronted period building arranged over three floors – a former restaurant premises with self-contained upper parts.

Richard said: “This is a well-known building and it will be particularly interesting to see what the new owner’s intentions are. Although offering spacious accommodation, the property needs complete refurbishment.

“There is potential for residential conversion of the upper parts and a restaurant/A3 premises or retail unit on the ground floor, subject to obtaining all necessary consents being obtainable.”

Planning permission was previously granted by Brighton and Hove City Council for change of use from restaurant at ground floor and HMO on first and second floors to an assessment hub for homeless people at ground floor and associated sleeping accommodation at first and second floors (sui generis), subject to conditions.

 

A bungalow needing redevelopment in Storrington near Pulborough (West Sussex) was sold at the auction.

Thornside, in Amberley Road, went under the auctioneer’s gavel at £201,000, well above the freehold guide price.

Richard said: “This was an excellent auction with competitive bidding by parties very keen to secure a purchase.

“Although the three bedroom semi-detached bungalow, unoccupied for a number of years, is now in need of complete renovation, our bidders could sense the potential behind the façade.

“Although we are not aware of the buyer’s intentions, we did anticipate interest from builders and developers seeking a one-off project, or even handy potential owner-occupiers.”

The bungalow is situated on the south side of Amberley Road (B2139) between Fern Road and Kithurst Park.

 

A Peacehaven bungalow, offered as an investment opportunity, went under the gavel at £178,000 after strong interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One-bedroom 196A South Coast Road is currently let on an assured shorthold tenancy agreement at £9,600 per annum.

Richard said: “We considered that this property would make an excellent addition to any residential investment portfolio, and our purchaser agreed.”

 

Clive Emson Auctioneers holds auctions eight times a year offering specialist advice for auction purposes with offices in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the West Country, selling with skill, speed and efficiency.

The next auction, the fifth of eight this year, ends on Wednesday, 26 July. Entries close on 3 July and the catalogue is available online from 7 July.

See https://www.cliveemson.co.uk for more details.