£1.9m sale a 'stunning success'

A sale that saw dozens of sites across Telford go under the hammer for £1.9 million has been hailed a "stunning success" by auctioneers.Dozens of pieces of land, garages and business units were snapped up at the auction, with bidders paying top prices for the plots.

They are now working out what to do with their acquisitions - while Telford & Wrekin Council bosses say they will use the proceeds to give better value-for-money to taxpayers.

About £1.9 million was made by the council at yesterday's sale, at Haydock Park Racecourse on Merseyside.

Unit 17, in Trench Lock 2, Trench Lock Industrial Estate, was sold to car firm Wilsons Auctions, which already occupies the site.

The triangular yard went for £150,000, far exceeding its £110,000 guide price.

Managing director Ian Wilson said: "We want to redevelop the site a little bit to make it flow better for customers."

Manchester-based Oakglade Property Management snapped up a three-acre site at Halesfield 20, Halesfield, which is mostly covered in trees.

Owner Saeed Ahmed said he would be developing the site. "We will work with the local authority and see what it wants," he said.

Justin Rushworth, from Lincolnshire-based Utility Estates, was the successful bidder for 10 electricity substation lots.

"We specialise in purchasing electricity substations," he said. "We've got about 1,000 all over the country."

Simon Riggall, from auctioneers Colliers CRE, said: "It was a stunning success. The prices were massively over the reserves."

Councillor Eric Carter, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This auction of plots, which are costly to administer and produce little return, has raised a very significant sum which will be reinvested into better performing assets."

Lots sold by Telford & Wrekin Council:

• Garages off Coronation Crescent, Madeley, £25,000.

• Land at Hartshill Avenue, Oakengates, £7,000.

• Land at Hillside Close, Arleston, £10,000.

• Land at the back of Stone Crescent, Telford, £6,000.

• Land at King Street, Dawley Bank, £16,000.

• Electricity substations at Springfields, Suffolk Way, Horseway; Stafford Street, St Georges; Maddocks Court, Glebe Street, Wellington and St Giles Close, Wellington; £15,000.

• Units 18 to 29 Trench Lock 2, Trench Lock Industrial Estate, £390,000.

• Unit 15, Trench Lock 2, £205,000. Unit 16, Trench Lock 2, £165,000. Unit 17 Trench Lock 2, £150,000.

• Land off Holly Well Lane, Doseley, £12,000.

• Land off Darby Road, Coalbrookdale, £72,000.

• Unit 6 Springfields Industrial Estate, Newport, £131,000.

• Electricity substations at Vineyard Road, Newport and Shuker Close, Newport, £8,500.

• Land at Church Walk, Dawley, £10,000. Land at Mafeking Road, Hadley, £16,000.

• Electricity substations at Mount Road, Dawley; Robin Lane, Edgmond; Bridle Road, Madeley; Broadway, Newport, £16,000.

• Electricity substations at Emral Rise, King's Haye Road, Meese Close and School Court, all Wellington, £3,000.

• Land to the back of 48 Dawley Road, Arleston, £29,000.

• Land at Lennock Road, Trench, £6,000.

• Land to the back of Third Avenue, Ketley Bank, £12,000.

• Land next to 53 Maslan Crescent and to the back of 30 Maslan Crescent, Tibberton, £31,000.

• Land adjacent to 124 Oakfield Road, Shawbirch, £34,000.

• Land at Crescent Road, Hadley, £14,000.

• Electricity substation at Shawbirch Road, Admaston, £20,000.

• Corner of Wombridge and Trench Road, Trench, £7,000.

• Electricity substation at Sandbrook, Ketley, £5,000.

• Electricity substation at High Mount, Donnington, £3,000.

• Electricity substations at Haybridge Road, Hadley; Gravelly Drive, Newport; adjacent to 56 Overdale, Overdale, Glebe Street, Wellington, £4,000.

• Electricity substation at Oak Road, Overdale, £5,000.

• Land to the back of 18 Hayward Avenue, Donnington, £23,000.

• Land to the back of The Dell, Rodington, £32,000.

• Land at Festival Gardens, Arleston, £22,000.

• Land off Whitchurch Road, Dothill, £105,000.

• Land adjacent to Wrekin Road, Wellington, £9,000.

• Land at Wrekin View, Madeley, £20,000.

• Land at Halesfield 20, Telford, £180,000.

• Electricity substations at Arden Avenue, Dawley; Langley Fold, Dawley; Avenue Road, Newport; Penistone Close, Donnington, unsold.

• Electricity substations at Queens Road, Donnington; The Common, Donnington; Seven Hills Place, Ketley; Bartlett Road, Dawley, £5,000.

• Land adjacent to 6 Forester Grove, Arleston, £27,000.

• Land adjacent to 75 Manor Road, Dawley, £42,000.

• Electricity substation at Hartshill Avenue, Oakengates, £10,000. Electricity substation at Hayes Road, Wellington, £5,000.

• Lots sold by Shropshire County Council:

• Land next to A41, Bletchley, near Market Drayton, £46,000

• Land at Grove Road, Shrewsbury, unsold. Former Sawmill, Nesscliffe, £8,000.

• Land at Park Hall, Oswestry, £47,000. Land at Kidderminster Road, Bridgnorth, £20,000.