ALMOST 80% of properties that went under the hammer at a Leeds auction were sold, raising nearly £3m.

29 of the 37 lots at Eddisons' latest auction found a buyer, and auctioneer Robert Limbert said there was "good bidding across all categories, with very little escaping the interest of investors and developers".

Among the highlights was Virginia Cottage, a vacant five bedroom property arranged for multiple occupancy in Roundhay, Leeds, which sold for £175,000 off a guide of £150,000-plus. The property has previously generated annual rental income of £18.6k.

Furthermore, a tenanted residential property in Harehills, which includes a two bedroom house and a self-contained studio flat producing £9k per annum, was sold for £65k achieving a return of nearly 14%.

Residential development opportunities included a vacant parcel of land at The Blossoms in Methley with planning for a three storey, four bedroom townhouse, which sold for £50k.

A 0.10 acre site in Bradford with planning for two detached houses achieved £85k. In addition, a strip of land extending to 0.75 acres in Northallerton sold for £115k. The land at Hailstone Moor, two miles west of the town, has previously had planning permission for a leisure plot and as a residential site for a single travelling family.

Several lots sold prior to the sale included a former Methodist Chapel on Doncaster Road in Ferrybridge, which was built around 1878. 

Robert Limbert, associate director and auctioneer at Eddisons, said: “There was good bidding across all categories, with very little escaping the interest of investors and developers.”