The Old School Hall in Dent-de-Lion Road in Garlinge, has been sold at auction for £217,000.
The building was used as a church hall for many years with many groups given notice when it The Parish of St James’ Church took the decision to close the hall, saying it needed too much maintenance.
Garlinge Residents Association, which used the hall alongside groups such as Scouts, Women’s Institute and a playgroup, had expressed an interest in the village taking the site over as a community asset via a leasing arrangement.
However, this did not come to fruition and the church hall was placed on the open market,
The site was sold by Clive Emson auctioneers, gaining just over the freehold guide price of £180-200,000.
Jon Rimmer, auction appraiser, said: “This might be suitable for a variety of schemes as long as all necessary consents are obtainable.
“It is in a good position for amenities and mainline railway stations. Our online sales have proven successful throughout the pandemic and this lot attracted a number of serious bidders.”
A plot of land in Margate’s Old Town which has been the centre of a campaign to retain a tree remains unsold.
The land next to 3 Duke Street has planning permission for five flats and a commercial unit. The freehold guide price was £275,000-plus.
The land was previously considered for a community garden under a Countdown to Turner scheme in 2011.
Another site going under the hammer was the car wash area on the corner of Northdown Road by the Resort art studios.
There is planning permission in place for two commercial units and 21 two-bedroom flats.
The freehold guide price was £520-530,000 but the plot remains unsold.
Bidding in the online auction closed yesterday (February 10)
Clive Emson’s next online property auction is on March 24. The catalogue is published online from March 6.
Let’s hope it becomes something that benefits the Garlinge community rather than housing!
It’s been on the market for over 18 months and had the opportunity for a community group to place an interest and have 6 months to raise the funds. Obviously that did’nt happen, most likely at best someone will convert it into a splendid home , though more likely it’ll be flattened and housing built. Community projects are all very well but the money has to come from somewhere.
When I say “benefit the community” I mean Drs Surgery, Gym, a Tesco or a thousand other things… anything but housing!
Is that because it’s not at Westwood?
Indeed Lesley, spot on. Westwood doesn’t need more shops.
Pleased the plot of land in the old town remains unsold. It should have been a garden handed over to the community instead of planning permission given for a block of pokey flats. The guide price is far too high also.
Was this sold to the highest bidder by a church organisation rather than diverted to community benefit? Did they skip the bit about choosing between God and Mammon?
They are a charity and as such when disposing of their assets are bound to seek best value , in addition the money raised is going to used to improve community facilities at the church, so community still gains. It’s linked to the church on canterbury road just up frm the bp garage. Vicars a nice aproachable chap. He spent lots of time explaining the situation when the property was first up for sale via Caxtons.
Genuine Question. Does‘best value’ simply mean highest price offered?
To my understanding yes, unless the charity commisioners can be convinced otherwise in the event anyone complains. Though if say a land swap or some other type of exchange was agreed and deemed to be “ best value” then theoretically it’d be ok. But a £ figure is much easier. It’s a nice building , i had a look when it first went on the market. Depending on how the pub industry comes out of Covid, with the site the Rodney sits on it’d be quite a big site.