TWO former Huddersfield pubs could have a new lease of life.
Developers have submitted plans to Kirklees Council to convert The White House, Slaithwaite, and The Crosland, in Crosland Moor, into housing.
They are two of several pubs in the town that have shut down in recent months.
But both have vastly different histories.
The White House, at Holthead, is thought to date back in parts to the 16th century.
It has been used as a pub and restaurant for decades and was last on the market a year ago, with a £300,000 price tag.
The Crosland stands at the corner of Walpole Road and Dryclough Road in the heart of Crosland Moor and has been shut down for many months.
It is a typical suburban pub, thought to have been built in the 1930s.
The White House plan has been submitted by Castleford-based Silverbond Developments Ltd who want to convert the former pub into three residential properties and build three garage blocks on the site.
A spokesman said: “The previous owners of the property, Enterprise Inns, were unable to utilise the premises as a pub for well over 12 months and its future in that vogue is simply not economically viable.
“If the building were to be left in its current state it would be prone to vandalism and dereliction.
“In fact, the roof of one of the outbuildings was stolen and the car park has been prone to flytipping.
“Given the general demise of public houses, particularly in rural areas, the property is unsustainable as a pub.
“The proposal creates a high-quality development of rural homes in keeping with the local area on a brownfield site which is of little benefit to the community in its current state”.
The developers have pledged to improve road access to the site at the junction of Delves Gate and Chain Road and have already held talks with Kirklees Council highways officers.
The plan for the Crosland has been submitted by Birmingham-based developers Bavchand Ltd.
They want to turn the former pub into nine apartments.
The pub - once known as Peters - has been boarded up for several months.
Both applications will be considered by council planning officials in the new year.
