CPBigwood’s fifth auction of the year has raised £8.25 million with 64 of the 83 lots offered being snapped up – a percentage of 78 per cent.

The breakdown was vacant residential, 31 out of 35, 86 per cent; residential investments, eight out of ten, 80 per cent; vacant commercial, 14 out of 22, 64 per cent; and development opportunities, ten out of 12, 83 per cent.

Jonathan Hackett, partner and head of auctions, said: “It was a strong result especially as this was an extra auction we slotted into the programme for the second successive year.

“There was a lot of interest and bidding was brisk.”

Two former outdoor children’s centres in North Wales, both owned by Midlands councils, proved popular.

Generations of youngsters have enjoyed Ogwen Cottage at Nant Ffrancon and Towyn Camp, Golf Road, Pwllheli, both Gwynedd, run by Birmingham and Wolverhampton councils respectively.

Both went for well over the guide price at the Holte Suite, Aston Villa, venue.

Ogwen Cottage, a stone-built former coaching inn, with a guide price of £375,000-£400,000, was acquired by Wales National Trust for £450,000.

It comprises eight dormitories and associated facilities, catering for up to 40-plus people. Situated just off the A5, it is located within the picturesque Snowdonia National Park and lies on the shores of Lake Ogwen. Parts of the property, which extends to 2.2 acres, are thought to date from 1700.

Towyn Camp, a detached five bedroom former farm house, in close proximity to the beach, sold for £200,000 off a guide of £120,000.

The whole site extends to some 18 acres, 17 of which are let on an agricultural tenancy.

Other Birmingham City Council lots which sold included Grade II Listed Bloomsbury Library, Nechells Parkway, which went for the guide price of £100,000; Fellowship Hall, South Parade, Sutton Coldfield, where there was lots of pre-auction interest, subsequently selling for £500,000 off a guide of £350,000; a car park off the junction of Manor Road and Witton Road, guide of £60,000, sold for £170,000; 52 Aston Church Road, Nechells, a former play centre with a guide of £100,000 sold for £250,000; and 3-5 Summerfield Crescent, Edgbaston, a three bedroom mid terrace property, with a guide of £50,000, sold for £155,000.

However the six-storey office complex at 150-152 Great Charles Street also put up by Birmingham City Council saw bidding close just £25,000 short of the guide price of £950,000. It is part of a potentially huge redevelopment site close to Paradise Circus where seven neighbouring buildings owned by Aviva Investors are all being brought to market for offers in excess of £20 million.

A development site for Wolverhampton Council, land between numbers 62 and 64 Olinthus Avenue, Wolverhampton, sold for £62,000 off of a guide of £30,000.

A leasehold apartment at Garnet Court, Chelmescote Road, Olton, sold for £131,000 off of a guide of £95,000.

The always popular Gracemere Crescent, Hall Green, attracted 70 pre-auction viewings of No 16, a three bedroom end terrace, which, off a guide of £85,000, sold for £123,000.

A three bedroom semi-detached needing renovation at 62A Manor Farm Road, Tyseley, sold for £94,000 off a guide of £64,000.

Black Country properties which attracted keen interest included 54 Heath Lane, West Bromwich, a three bedroom semi-detached  which sold for £85,000 off of a guide of £58,000; 12 Heronville Road, West Bromwich, a four bedroom mid-terrace, guide £44,000, sold for £102,000; 2 Highfield Crescent, Blackheath, a three bedroom semi-detached, guide of £78,000, sold for £96,500; a three bedroom detached property at 26 Ingleby Gardens, Wolverhampton, sold for £80,000 off a guide of £49,000; and 93 Sherborne Road, Wolverhampton, a three bedroom detached, sold for £72,000 off a guide of £50,000.

And finally less than a third of an acre of grazing land at Bridge 45, Wrights Lane, Gayton, Northamptonshire, fronting onto the Grand Union Canal, sold for £23,000 off of a guide of £5,000.