The changing face of Birmingham and its surrounds is in the spotlight as a series of buildings which once would have been at the centre of their communities come up for auction.

They include a former children's home, former old people's home, former residential school and former youth club.

All go under the hammer when chartered surveyors Bigwood bring forward 120 lots on Wednesday September 22 in the Holte Suite at Villa Park.

An imposing Grade II listed property at 250 Reservoir Road, Erdington, is the one-time children's home, since converted into offices.

It has latterly been used by Birmingham City Council as one of its local area centres.

It has a guide price of £250,000 and may be suitable to be converted back to residential.

Barncroft, 574 College Road, Kingstanding, is a vacant 1970s building previously run as an old people's home.

It is on the market with a guide price of £400,000 and has the potential for various alternative uses or indeed redevelopment.

The former residential school is in Bromsgrove on a 3.47 acre site at Uplands, Greenhill, Blackwell. It has a guide price of £450,000.

"The property comprises of a much extended 19th Century house with a number of separate buildings which makes it suitable for a variety of different uses subject to obtaining planning permission," says Bigwood.

Back in Birmingham, 169 Alcester Road, Moseley, was last used as a youth club, but has planning permission for redevelopment into four apartments.

Its guide price is set at £235,000 to £245,000.

Social clubs continue to be under pressure amidst difficult times for the licensed trade, with the former Perry Barr Conservative Club, 67 Warren Road, up for sale.

On the ground floor is a main hall with stage, dance floor, bar, dressing rooms and seating for 80 covers. On the first floor is a billiard room and bar plus a committee room.

The asking price is between £138,000 and £143,000.

Meanwhile, the site of the Uppercrust café at 10 Sheaf Street, Daventry, is available.

A commercial investment opportunity, it has a guide price of £64,000 to £68,000.

The property is on a 21 year lease with a current gross income of £14,200 a year.

And similarly another retail investment, let to the Copper Beech Café, is unit 3, 6 Copper Beech Road, Camp Hill, Nuneaton.

It has a rent of £8,700 per annum due to rise to £11,000 in December 2014.

The guide price is £80,000 to £90,000.

And there are some shops at 408-410 Moseley Road in Balsall Heath which should appeal.

The area has been a focus of redevelopment and regeneration, with the new Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College nearby.

The guide price is £350,000.

Or investors could take a bite of either 65 High Street, Brierley Hill, a former fruit and veg shop with a guide price in excess of £115,000, or 476-478 Tyburn Road, Erdington, a mixed residential and commercial investment property, part-let to Subway, with a gross income of £15,600 and a guide price of £225,000-£235,000.

A town centre store at 28-29 King Street, Dudley, could be snapped up for £300,000 to £350,000.

And then there is an opportunity to acquire an industrial estate.

Tromans Industrial Estate, 212 Halesowen Road, Dudley, has a guide price of £94,000 to £98,000.

It is described as "a small industrial estate with letting potential".

For more information about Bigwood, please visit their website here: www.bigwood.uk.com