Former cemetery office could be given new lease of life when it goes under the hammer at auction
A former cemetery office could be given a new lease of life when it goes under the hammer at auction later this month.
The former Lodge Hill Cemetery Office building in Selly Oak, Birmingham, is being sold by Bond Wolfe Auctions on behalf of cash-strapped Birmingham City Council, with a guide price of £35,000-plus.
Gurpreet Bassi, chief executive of Bond Wolfe, said: “This is another first for us. In all the many thousands of lots we have sold over the years, this is the first cemetery office we have been instructed to offer.”
The ground floor office is situated on the corner of Weoley Avenue and Weoley Park Road and will be sold with a new 125-year lease at a premium, subject to a peppercorn ground rent.
Mr Bassi said: “This is a property that could be suitable for a variety of uses, subject to planning permission, including residential.
“However, one thought is that it could be transformed into a very well placed coffee shop that also sells flowers and balloons and other in memoriam materials.
“It is part of the Lodge Hill Cemetery and Crematorium complex.”
Interested parties are urged to make their own enquiries with Birmingham City Council's planning department about any possible future use proposed of the property which is one of a raft of no longer needed venues being sold off to raise much-needed funds for the local authority.
Prospective buyers are also advised that Birmingham City Council will consider the sale of its freehold interest in the property once the buyer’s lease obligations regarding fencing and new independent access provision to the property have been discharged.
The property, which comprises an entrance hall leading into a reception/office, reception area, kitchenette, WC and storage rooms, will be among score of lots appearing in Bond Wolfe’s next auction which starts at 8.30am on Thursday March 26.
The auction will be livestreamed via Bond Wolfe’s website with remote bidding by proxy, telephone or internet.
For more details and to register to bid visit https://www.bondwolfe.com/auctions/properties/, email auctions@bondwolfe.com or call 0121 312 1212 or 01902 928 510.
