Hel’s belles

A former school now used as flats in Helston and a historic former chapel are going under the auctioneer’s gavel at £325,000 plus. 

The ‘substantial’ apartment property in Church Street is fully let on six tenancies, generating a total of £39,450 per annum. Each of the six self-contained flats has its own external access point.

The block is among 167 lots in the third sale of 2025 by one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK, Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers.

Auctioneer David Henwood said: “This is a substantial terraced building situated close to Helston town centre.

“It is understood the building was originally utilised as a school and is now arranged as six self-contained flats, with a total of 11 bedrooms.

“Many of the tenants have been in occupation for a significant period of time, and accordingly the lot is considered suitable for continued use as a letting investment.”

In Sithney, near Helston, a former ecclesiastical building has a freehold guide of £140,000 to £160,000.

The Old Chapel is a character property with ‘extensive space over four levels’ and ‘views across the Cornish countryside’ from its top floor.

David said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire a former ecclesiastical building located within the charming hamlet of Sithney.

“It is understood the building dates back to the mid-19th Century and served the local community for over one hundred years.

“Subsequently, the chapel was converted to a detached dwelling with many of the materials for conversion having reportedly been reclaimed from the chapel, including the library area which was constructed utilising wood from the chapel's organ.

“The building now provides extensive space over four levels, with abundant concealed storage areas, in a layout which reflects its previous use and vast history.

“The lower ground floor has most recently been utilised for storage, having been reportedly once imagined as a nuclear fallout shelter and self-contained living space, while the main living space offers flexible accommodation full of character and includes a kitchen, library area, living and dining space.”

David added: “The top floor offers extensive views to the rear across the Cornish countryside and incorporates a master bedroom with study, shower room and ample further space in an open-plan layout.

“There is extensive outside garden space including a greenhouse, unfinished outbuilding, former outside WC and parking area.

“A programme of improvement works are now required throughout with the potential to create a stunning living space in an enviable location.

“Individuals may also wish to consider reconfiguration of the existing accommodation to create further bedrooms or sub-division of the property to create multiple dwellings, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/103/

Both properties are being auctioned in arrangement with Christophers Estate Agents.

Clive Emson Auctioneers, which has its regional office in Exeter, was recently awarded Residential Auction Service of the Year in The Negotiator Awards 2024, the Oscars of the UK’s residential agency sector.

It will be attending the Landlord Investment Show on 30 April at Ashford International Hotel in Kent.

The third auction of eight in 2025 by the firm, founded 36 years ago, concludes on 1 May, with bidding live from 29 April.

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Flat in coastal  location

A leasehold flat in Falmouth already let at £9,000 per annum has a guide price of £105,000 plus.

The first-floor property is at Harbour Lights in Arwenack Street and has one bedroom.

Auctioneer David Henwood said: “This is a well-located property in good decorative order close to shops, the waterfront and station.

“It comes to auction with a current rental of £750 per calendar month although it has been previously let at £900 per calendar month.

“The flat is expected to attract interest from established and new investors seeking a property already delivering a return.”

Located above a fish and chip shop, the apartment is being auctioned with the remainder of a 999-year lease from March 2006.

Also in Falmouth, Cornwall Council has instructed the sale of a parcel of land in New Street

With harbour views and located among harbour properties, it has a freehold guide of £10,000 plus. The parcel extends to about 0.02 hectares (0.04 acres).

In Truro, a property arranged as two flats in Trevose Road has a freehold guide of £45,000 to £50,000.

A semi-detached property, each flat has two bedrooms.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/110/

Also in the Truro area, freehold land in the village of Carnon Downs has a guide of £5,000 plus.

The parcel – measuring about  0.02 hectares (0.04 acres) – is sited between a house and block of garages. It has been placed for auction by Cornwall Council.

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Gallery listing

A former art gallery in St Ives is set to draw bids in a ‘rare opportunity’ at the auction.  

Westcotts Gallery on Westcotts Quay has a freehold guide price of £250,000 to £275,000.

Auctioneer David Henwood said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire a waterfront commercial premises with views of St Ives Bay.

“Interested parties may wish to consider sub-division of the property, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”

The ground floor premises include an open plan gallery space along with a kitchen, shower room, WC and courtyard. The total floor area is 236 sq m.

Westcotts Gallery is being auctioned jointly with Miller Commercial.

In Penzance, lock-up garages to the north of Marine Terrace have a freehold guide of £90,000 plus.

The block includes four garages, a large garage/workshop and an adjoining garage/shed.

Three of the four garages are each let on Licence Agreements at £70 per calendar month, generating a total of £210 per calendar month.

Auction Appraiser Steve Appleby said: “Located close to Penzance seafront, this freehold property presents a potential investment opportunity.”

The lot is being auctioned jointly with Stacey Mann Estates Ltd.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/16/

A cottage called Suhaili, in Prussia Cove Road, Rosudgeon, has a freehold guide of £350,000 plus.

It is split over three levels and is currently arranged as a single property. It was previously used as a house with a one-bedroom annexe.

David said: “Suhaili offers far reaching views over the Cornish countryside and sea beyond. It  requires some improvement works and may offer potential for extension or sub-division, subject to all the necessary consents being obtained.”

Suhaili is being auctioned jointly with Stacey Mann Estates Ltd.

Hillside at Gulval Cross in Gulval  has a freehold guide of £200,000 plus. A two-bedroom detached property, it has two reception rooms, garden and store that houses a boiler

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/96/

Hillside is also being auctioned jointly with Stacey Mann Estates Ltd.

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Lots to offer in Launceston

A four-bedroom detached bungalow called Boslowen in Ridgegrove Lane has a freehold guide price of £195,000 plus.

Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “The property offers flexible accommodation, off-road parking, three garages and good sized front and rear gardens.

“Now requiring modernisation, it offers great potential for a new owner in a semi-rural location on the fringes of Launceston with a good range of local amenities and convenient access to the A30.”

Boslowen is being auctioned in arrangement with View Property.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/118/

In Madford Lane a freehold terraced building formerly used as a warehouse has a freehold guide of £25,000 plus.

James said: “Offering accommodation over two floors, the building may offer the potential for residential conversion, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”

Land to the rear of Sportsmans Close in Treburley, near Launceston, has a freehold guide of £5,000 plus.

Cornwall Council has instructed the sale of parcel, which includes a road. It extends to about 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres).

Near Torpoint, land with lapsed planning permission in Porspoder Place, Cawsand, has a freehold guide of £30,000 to £40,000.

Planning permission was granted by Cornwall Council in March 2020 for the construction of two flats although this has now lapsed. The land extends to about 0.04 hectares (0.09 acres).

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Lots to Camborne property

A multi-faceted building in Camborne - with a shop, three-bedroom flat and ‘substantial’ outbuilding with planning permission for two apartments has a freehold guide price of £155,000 plus.

Auctioneer David Henwood said: “This property is situated within the heart of Camborne and located on the town's main throughfare and principal trading street.

“It offers a potential return on investment with letting of both the existing property as well as two apartments if built out from the planning permission.

“The property comes to market due to retirement and represents a great opportunity. We expected keen interest from investors and smaller scale developers seeking to realise the potential of this lot.”

The property is arranged as a ground floor shop with three bedroom flat. A substantial outbuilding to the rear has planning approval for the construction of two apartments.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/43

Near Camborne, a terraced house with an additional one-bedroom annexe, garage, outbuilding and large garden has a freehold guide of £160,000 to £175,000The property is in Cathebedron Road, Carnhell Green.

David said: “Each component now requires a programme of improvement works.

“Some may wish to consider development in the rear garden space or amalgamation of the cottage and additional dwelling to create a large family house. Any works would be subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/23/

Both properties are being auctioned in arrangement with MAP estate agents.

In Redruth, an end-terrace house with three bedrooms and land in Raymond Road has a freehold guide of £50,000 to £60,000.

The property measures about 0.05 hectares (0.12 acres), including a back garden, land to the side and off-road parking provision to the rear.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/38/

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Auction stations!

Cornwall Council has instructed the auction of a former Women’s Institute hall in St Austell. 

The detached property in Robartes Gardens has a freehold guide price of £25,000 to £30,000.

Auctioneer David Henwood said: “This single-storey building has been previously used as a WI building and was most recently used as an adult education centre.

The hall, with a total floor area of 66 sq m, has a principal room, kitchen, store room and cloakroom with WC.

Cornwall Council has also instructed the sale of a road and footpath in Stennack Road, at Holmbush Industrial Estate in St Austell. It has a nil reserve price.

The land extends to a total of about 0.05 hectares (0.13 acres).

David said: “This is an unusual lot comprising a roadway and footpath which has been partially used for informal parking.

“It is situated within a well-established industrial estate and provides access for deliveries to Tesco supermarket.”

In Bugle, a semi-detached house for improvement in Higher Bugle has a freehold guide of £125,000 plus.

With three bedrooms, it has an enclosed garden at the front with access down the side to a back garden.

Watch the video: https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/104/