Bradford Council Sells Off Assets, Including Children’s Centre, at Auction

Bradford: The Council held an auction for its properties on Tuesday and Wednesday. They sold empty homes, land, and former facilities. Some sold for more than expected, but a few high-profile properties didn’t attract any buyers.

One notable property was Valley View, a former children’s care home. It closed in 2022 during a care system overhaul. The guide price was £750,000, but it didn’t sell.

Another unsold asset was a 1.85-acre site at Cliffe Lane West in Baildon. It had a guide price of £185,000 but received no bids.

On the bright side, some properties sold for much more than their guide prices. The former Mortimer House Children’s Centre had a guide price of £90,000 but sold for £325,000.

Bradford Council is selling over 150 assets to avoid bankruptcy. They received special financial support from the Government, allowing them to use loans to balance their budget.

This support also lets the Council use money from property sales for essential services like social care and waste collection. Normally, councils can’t use asset sale income for daily operations.

Other properties sold include:

– 64 Paley Terrace, a fire-damaged house with a guide price of £9,500, sold for £68,000.
– 5 Roseberry Street in Oakworth, a three-bedroom home, sold for £85,000 against a guide price of £80,000.
– 10 Queen Street in Silsden, another mid-terrace, sold for £130,000, exceeding its £100,000 guide price.
– 36 Belgrave Road in Bingley, a four-bedroom terrace, sold for £140,000, above its £130,000 guide price.
– Whinfield Drive, a 3-acre site in Keighley, sold for £130,000, slightly above its £120,000 guide price.
– 6-8 Northgate in Baildon, a commercial building, sold for £348,000, well above its £235,000 guide price.