Cemetery house sold as council auctions assets

Image source, Google

Image caption, The property was said to have "great potential"
  • Author, Chris Young
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A cash-strapped council has continued to sell off property assets to try and balance the books.

Bradford Council, which needs to save more than 拢175m over the next few years, is aiming to dispose of more than 150 properties and other assets to raise about 拢60m.

The lodge at Thornton Cemetery was sold in an online auction this week.

The three-bedroom detached property raised 拢130,000.

The authority was saved from the edge of effective bankruptcy at the end of February when the government agreed to grant it "exceptional financial support".

In March the council passed a budget which would save 拢40m but was described as "devastating".

The auction listing for the graveyard property said the stone-built house required renovation, but added it had "great potential".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said other buildings previously auctioned included a former care home, which sold last month for 拢1m - significantly higher than the guide price.