Bids fly in for offices
Former St John Ambulance offices in Penzance town centre were in demand at auction.
Located in Guildhall Road, the detached property had a freehold guide price of £95,000 plus but went for £122,000 when the auctioneer’s gavel fell.
It came with a car park which is let out on a 10-year lease, from March 2025, at an annual rent of £5,750 per annum.
The building was among 177 lots listed in the first auction of 2026 by Clive Emson Auctioneers, which is one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK.
Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “There was keen interest in this substantial detached property in Penzance town centre.
“It was most recently used as a probation office by St John Ambulance but offers a number of options to the new owner, clearly including some form of residential development subject to all of the necessary consents.”
A number of lots came to auction in the Penzance area.
A detached ‘chocolate box’ property – Larkspur Cottage - in Germoe Lane, Germoe, fetched £250,000 freehold.
Senior Auction Appraiser Katie Semmens said: “The new owner has acquired a well-presented, spacious and charming three-bedroom detached, partially thatched cottage.
“It sits on good sized and well maintained grounds including a variety of outbuildings and benefits from a private drive with ample parking.”
Larkspur Cottage was auctioned in arrangement with Christophers Estate Agents.
A parcel of land with sea views next to Gurnick Estate, in Newlyn, fetched four times its freehold guide of £5,000 plus when it sold for £22,200.
Katie said: “There was keen interest in this lot.
“Its fabulous views over Newlyn harbour, Mounts Bay and beyond to St Michael’s Mount would have been among the attractions to bidders.
“Its location at the end of a pleasant residential cul-de-sac offers the new owner potential for a variety of different uses, subject to all the necessary consents.”
The parcel measures 0.04 hectares (0.11 acres).
In Chyandour Place, Penzance, a two-bedroom terraced cottage with a freehold guide of £100,000 plus sold after the auction.
The house was auctioned in arrangement with Andrew Exelby Estate Agents.
Land on the north side of Penpons Close, Alverton, sold for £12,250 – well in excess of its freehold guide of £1,500 to £2,000.
A walled enclosure nestled among housing, it was auctioned on the instructions of Cornwall Council.
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Full house!
A detached coach house with four self-contained garages has been bought at auction for £209,000.
Meneth Gwyns, in Consols, St. Ives, was among 177 lots listed in the first auction of 2026 by Clive Emson Auctioneers, which is one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK.
The property, with three bedrooms and a separate studio room, had a freehold guide price of £195,00 plus.
Auction Appraiser Steve Appleby said: “Bidders recognised the potential of Meneth Gwyns.
“The new owner may wish to capitalise on opportunities to increase the current footprint and create further independent living accommodation or they may have other schemes in mind, subject to all the necessary consents.
“The property’s three lock-up garages below, with a fourth attached to the side, have all been previously let and offer income potential for the new owner too.”
Land off Trencrom Lane in Carbis Bay, placed for auction by Cornwall Council, also proved in demand.
A WC block was formerly sited on the land, which went for £10,200 – more than 10 times its freehold guide of £1,000 plus.
In Treloweth Terrace, Park Bottom, near Redruth, a two-bedroom cottage sold for £115,000 freehold.
Listed with a guide of £105,000 plus, it was auctioned in arrangement with MAP Estate Agents.
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Communications centre in demand
A large commercial unit on more than half a hectare near St Austell has sold at auction for nearly £400,000.
The Communication Centre, in Par Moor Road, Par, was listed with a freehold guide price of £300,000 to £350,000 but went for £392,000 when the gavel fell after 73 separate bids.
Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “There was a great deal of interest in this large and versatile commercial property.
“Its mix of offices, warehouses and storage spaces attracted the attention of bidders along with its location in an established trading position on Par Moor Road, about three miles east of St Austell.
“The site may offer future potential for a range of alternative uses including residential development, subject to all the necessary consents.”
As well as offices, warehouses and storage spaces, the property also has parking at the front and a large area of hardstanding at the rear.
In Liskeard town centre, a three-storey freehold commercial unit fetched £50,000.
Located in Pike Street, it offers the new owner potential for residential conversion to the first and second floors, subject to all the necessary consents.
It was listed with a freehold guide of £47,500 plus.
Freehold land in Castle View Street, St Stephens, Saltash, sold for £2,250.
Cornwall Council instructed the sale of the parcel, which measures about 0.02 hectares (0.04 acres).
It was listed with a freehold guide of £1,500 plus.
A strip of freehold land in Par for sale with a nil reserve fetched £10. The parcel on the West Side of Mount Road measures about 0.04 hectares (0.10 acres). It was placed at auction by Cornwall Council.
Clive Emson Auctioneers’ next auction concludes on 26 March, with bidding live from 48 hours beforehand. Lot entries close on 2 March, with the catalogue online from 5 March.
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