Bradford Council’s Disused Pool Fetches Ten Times Its Estimated Value at Auction

A disused swimming facility, property of Bradford Council, was successfully auctioned, achieving a sale price ten times higher than its estimated value. Specifically, Rhodesway Pool, initially projected to sell for between £40-50,000, ultimately secured £508,000 during an online property auction event. The location of the pool was among 11 assets belonging to the council offered for sale, alongside parcels of land, vacant residential properties, and a former petrol station. Out of the 11 properties put up for auction, eight found buyers, generating over £2.1m for the financially challenged local authority, which faces a £40m deficit in its budget. Prior to this, earlier in the year, the local government body had disclosed plans to divest over 150 locations as part of its strategy to stabilize its financial position and avoid insolvency. Situated in the Allerton area, the swimming facility ceased operations in 2011 and was identified by the council as one of the structures considered “surplus to requirements,” according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Furthermore, multiple other properties offered by Bradford Council also achieved prices above their initial estimates during the sale held on Wednesday. Nevertheless, three specific properties did not find buyers. These included 5 Roseberry Street in Oakworth, with an estimated value of £85,000; 10 Queen Street in Silsden, valued at £105,000; and a parcel of land designated for development on Whinfield Drive in Keighley, which had a guide price of £150,000. All these items remained without a buyer after the auction concluded.