THE tills are ringing at the auction house to the tune of £360,000 as the highly anticipated sale of the former NatWest bank in Uppermill has been completed.
The bank closed its doors on the High Street on June 27 and came up for sale on October 17 through Pugh Auctions at the AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, with a minimum guide price of £250,000.
Numerous bids tried to stake their claim for the property, with the opening bid of £190,000 being increased to the sale price of £360,000.
The successful purchaser was John Payne, who bought the three-storey building on behalf of his sister businesswoman Charlotte Payne, who is currently overseas.
He told the Independent he has “no idea” what his sister plans to use the building for.
Whatever her plans, the ATM cash machine will remain has internal refurbishment work was carried out in September to isolate it from the rest of the building.
NatWest have pledged to retain the ATM for a minimum five years and will pay £2,000 per annum to the new owner.
There were some criticisms of the conditions attached to the sale, with NatWest refusing to allow the possibility of another bank or building society to make a bid for the premises.
The property was sold with further restrictions including: businesses involved with money lending, pawnbrokers/adult sex shops, bookmakers or gambling businesses, bars or public houses, the sale of firearms, or the sale of any paraphernalia associated with illegal drugs.
The Independent visited the bank in early October during one of three open days ahead of the auction, to get a glimpse inside.
Entirely stripped of its contents, the building is an empty shell and currently includes banking vaults and safes, staff toilets, a kitchen area, and attic area, with much of it in need of renovation.
Would make a brilliant Antique Centre.