Shropshire Council assets set for auction

Millions of pounds of Shropshire Council's assets, from shops and industrial units to a housing estate and a caravan park will go under the hammer at auction next month.

The council is selling off some of its 'family silver' as part of its bid to deal with the economic crisis. The 16th century Ironcraft shop in Frankwell is one of the 21 lots being auctioned at 22 Portman Square, London on October 12.

Another lot under the hammer will be a housing estate near Oswestry.

Shropshire Council confirmed there will be 28 properties going to auction in 21 lots while property consultant, Lambert Smith Hampton, said the lots were expected to fetch between £5,000 and £1 million.

An auction catalogue will be available to view online via Shropshire Council's website in the next week.

Several lots in Shrewsbury are also to be sold, many of them with tenants who rent the property.

Owners of shops and commercial premises that rent the units were today not prepared to comment about the sale of the properties.

As well as the Ironcraft building lots include neighbourhood shops on Crowmere Road, Grafton Mews near the Battlefield Enterprise Park and three lots in Nettles Lane near Theatre Severn – the Autotyres building, a terrace of modern commercial buildings and a car park.

The now vacant housing estate at Brookfields Close, Weston Rhyn, will need refurbishing or rebuilding by the new buyer. Picturesque Presthorpe Caravan Park at Much Wenlock, currently rented to The Caravan Club is another council property up for sale.

Also in the Much Wenlock area is the Travis Perkins builders' yard and an old telephone exchange.

The Caravan Club said today it had not been contacted by Shropshire Council about the caravan site at Much Wenlock.

A statement issued by the club said: "The club has not been approached by the council but if the land were to become available we would give the matter consideration."

By Sue Austin