Plans for a shop and restaurant below student flats in a former Huddersfield pub have been unveiled.
Grade II listed Hannah House, on Northumberland Street, was converted into student flats in 2012 but the basement floor was left vacant.
The building was previously The Crescent pub.
Now the building’s owner, Dr Ishtiaq Gilkar, has unveiled plans for retail and a restaurant or cafe in the vacant area of the building, which is next door to the town’s main Post Office.
He argues that the space is more suited to commercial use than student flats.
Dr Gilkar, a former junior doctor at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, bought the three-storey Crescent hotel in Northumberland Street in 2012 last year for £350,000.
At one time it was best known as a hostelry favoured by Town fans for a pre-match tipple and in later years was a short-lived Portuguese restaurant, Bar Vasco.
Dr Gilkar spent a further £600,000 turning it into Hannah House (named after one of his daughters) comprising 24 luxury apartments for professionals and Huddersfield University students.
When they were marketed at the end of July 2013 they were snapped up within days.
In a statement with the new plans, Dr Gilkar says: “Currently the space is not used and is at risk of falling into disrepair as it did previously.
“Given the recent influx of student accommodation into Huddersfield it is suggested that further units would not provide the benefit that these two commercial spaces would to the town centre, by providing additional amenities to serve the local community and the additional population attracted by the student accommodation.”
The planning application is being considered by Kirklees officers with it open to public comments until August 4.
