AUCTIONEER Justin Lowe, of Taunton-based Greenslade Taylor Hunt, was delighted to return to the auction room following the pandemic.

There was plenty of interest at the opening property auction of the year at The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster – the first time the firm was at the hotel since December 2019.

An enthusiastic audience and a large number of internet and telephone bids saw a comprehensive range of properties, including residential, development, agricultural and commercial opportunities, sell across three counties.

Highlights of the sale included a small block of land with an agricultural building at Middlemarsh, near Sherborne, selling on behalf of Dorset County Council with a guide of £55,000, but going under the hammer at £101,000 after spirited bidding from a range of buyers across Dorset.

An excellent development opportunity at High Ham, Langport, saw the hammer fall at £405,000 to a Somerset developer.

A residential renovation opportunity at Mill Street, Martock, guided at £160,000 finally went for £194,000.

A smallholding at Membury, Axminster, sold at £400,000 with an adjoining five acre paddock going for £68,000 to local buyers.

And a former meeting hall in Yeovil was snapped up for £160,000 by a local developer.

Mr Lowe MRICS reported that a good crowd showed that people now have the confidence to return to the auction room, and the market for all property in this part of the West Country appears to be robust at present with a continuing under supply.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s next auction will be conducted on Wednesday, March 23, at The Batch Country House Hotel, Lympsham, near Weston-super-Mare, where there will be a range of agricultural, residential, equestrian and development opportunities.