Property round-up: Venmore’s auction raises £1.7m; and more
AUCTIONEER Venmore generated sales of £1.7m from its first auction of the year, which was held last week at Liverpool Town Hall’s Council Chambers.
Commercial director Geoff Guest said: “Our first auction at Liverpool Town Hall generated a lot of interest which led to very competition bidding throughout the afternoon.”
The firm said that the stand-out property of the 39 lots for sale was a two-bedroom terraced cottage in Woolton Village. It sold for £93,500, which was more than £28,000 above its £65,000 guide price.
Other successful sales included a two-bed semi-detached home in Bromborough which sold for £80,000, a two-bed end terrace house in St Helens that sold for £47,000 and a property in Wavertree which sold for £10,000 above its’ guide price at £55,000.
Mr Guest added: “The auction environment can prove incredibly fruitful for the right property and the opportunity to sell an attractive property well above guide price can easily arise in a room full of eager bidders.”
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AFFORDABLE homes developer Mulbury Homes is to build a new scheme containing nine family houses on two neighbouring sites in Stretford, Manchester.
Lymm-based Mulbury is building the £1 million scheme in Derbyshire Avenue for Arcon Housing Association.
The development follows the earlier demolition of run-down residential units which left the sites vacant for a number of years. The new development will provide five three-bedroom houses on one site and four on another just 100 yards away.
The scheme is being funded by a grant allocation from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Building work is expected to begin within the next few weeks and is expected to be completed by early 2013.
Greg Mulligan, a director of Mulbury Homes, said: “This scheme will deliver energy-efficient family homes and bring these two neglected parcels of land back into use in a way that benefits the broader community.
“The development will rejuvenate the area, as well as providing much needed affordable housing.”
Peter Schilizzi, chief executive at Arcon Housing Association said: “We are very happy to be working with Mulbury Homes on this new project to deliver affordable housing for rent.”
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PROPERTY fund manager Highcross has appointed CBRE and Edwards & Co. as joint lettings agents on its recently-acquired Deva City Office Park on the edge of Manchester city centre.
The 83,500 sq ft business village off Trinity Way in Salford was bought by Highcross in July 2011 for £10.3m. It comprises three former brewery buildings that have been completely refurbished, and the 40,000 sq ft Brewery Yard development.
Occupiers include Handelsbanken, WRG Creative Communication, QBE and accountants Royce Peeling Green.
Ed Keany, senior surveyor at Edwards & Co, said: “Deva City Office Park is a leading, city centre offering and we are delighted to have been appointed to work alongside CBRE on this instruction.
“Highcross’ commitment to the scheme and intensive approach to asset management will enable it to fulfill its potential as a leading office destination.
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A HOUSING scheme in Stockport has been identified as one of 18 schemes to potentially receive funding under the Government’s £420m Get Britain Building Programme.
The 41-home second phase of development at Hopes Carr, part of the Covent Garden Village regeneration programme, has been earmarked to move to the next stage of the assessment process on whether it should qualify for funding.
Hopes Carr is the start of Stockport’s new Covent Garden Village, a mixed-tenure residential-led urban village that will deliver 250 new homes. It is a partnership between developer Seddon and Stockport Council.
Seddon Group began work last autumn on a £5.7m block of 46 new apartments for Stockport Homes – the first element of the new urban village – backed by funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Stockport Homes.
Subject to due diligence and contracting, HCA investment could help Seddon build the next stage 41-home phase of the development.
HCA’s North West executive director Deborah McLaughlin said: “This is encouraging news for Covent Garden Village and we are keen to see more homes being delivered and progress being made on this important local project.”
Cllr Kevin Hogg, executive member for regeneration at Stockport Council, added: “We’ve been working hard to drive this project forward with ID4 Living and the HCA, so I’m delighted with this news.
“This exciting next phase of the Covent Garden residential scheme plays an important part in our overall regeneration plans for the town centre.
“Encouraging more households in the town centre will support existing businesses, increase footfall and attract more investment.”
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CBRE North West has been appointed as agents on Rhino Court at Hazel Grove in Stockport. The development contains nine self-contained units of between 4,141 sq ft to 10,997 sq ft.
The detached brick built buildings are being offered either on a freehold or leasehold basis, but no asking price has been quoted for the scheme, which is two miles south of Stockport town centre, just of the A6.
CBRE North West Kirsty Littleford said: “The scheme is finished to the very highest quality, offering occupiers the chance to be a part of a business community, and positioned close to amenities and key motorway and transport links.”
Jones Lang LaSalle is joint letting agent.
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BEAN Coffee has opened its third Coffee Shop outlet in Manchester at Peel Land and Property’s Venus office building in Trafford Quays.
The Liverpool-based company expanded in to the Manchester region last year when it opened two outlets at The Victoria and Quay West buildings at Peel’s MediaCityUK scheme.
The company also operates a coffee shop and deli at Brunswick Business Park and at the Peel-owned Princes Dock site in Liverpool. It also has a mobile unit known as the ‘Bean Machine’ which attends festivals and sports events around the region.
Jon Whyte, director of Bean Coffee, said: “We are very happy to have opened a facility in the Venus reception area. We aim to provide the office workers with convenient access to superior breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks and so far the feedback has been very promising.”
Liza Marco of Peel said: “We are delighted that Bean Coffee has decided to open another outlet at one of our offices.”
