The gorgeous chocolate box mansion that just won’t sell

It’s renowned as one ‘the most important Arts and Crafts houses in the north of England’. But the owners Banney Royd mansion in Huddersfield – have enlisted a third set of estate agents as they try to sell the gorgeous chocolate box property, YorkshireLive reports.

Mike Phillips and his wife Marina Shaw bought the Grade I-listed mansion for around £1.7m in 2011. But despite the efforts of Yorkshire’s Finest in May 2019 and more recently Huddersfield’s Simon Blyth it has yet to find a buyer and that has led the couple to obtain the services of London real estate company Tyron Ash based in Mayfair.

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The company is far removed from your typical estate agents. Founder Tyron Ash was previously convicted for intent to supply class A drugs and sentenced to 40 months in prison. His team of glamorous young estate agents were a natural focus for Channel Four’s Mega-Mansion Hunters which screened in February.

They deal in “super-prime luxury” property deals and boast 100 staff, all of whom are able to earn up to £80,000 in commission per sale. The company is famed for its ruthless tactics and sharp elbows.

In its marketing prospectus, the luxurious and regal nature of the property on Halifax Road as well as its associations with a bygone era are emphasized. “Greeted at the entrance gates, adorned with a large brass shield you embark up an extensive sweeping driveway originally designed for coach and horses, and later to service the most fantastic of Rolls Royce motor cars.

“The drive flows upwards to reveal the imposing property with giant oak doors and carved stonework. As you enter Banney Royd through the large oak arched front doors with copper finger plaques you step back in time, a time of lords and ladies when the butler welcomed guests.”

And it is noted that an area of the seven-acre site “has received pre-planning approval to develop two residential properties with a view for sale to help with conserving the original property.”

Over the last 20 years or so Banney Royd has seen its value fluctuate significantly. At the height of one property boom, it had a tag of £5m attached to it though that always seemed an optimistic assessment and more recently it was valued at over £2m. Now, however, the vendors say it is a matter of price on application.

Read more property news: Historic department store and bank building could be yours for £200k

Also read: Inside the super cheap three-bed home on the market with a guide price of just £19,000

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