MILLS, warehouses, pubs and sometimes churches are converted into apartments and houses.

But never before have industrial coal chutes been converted into homes.

That could change, however, because a developer is hoping to transform five giant chutes, next to the Trans-Pennine railway line at Milnsbridge, into seven terraced houses.

GSK Developments plans to convert the chutes, which were used to load coal from trains into lorries, into two-storey homes with solar panels.

The Barkisland-based company also hopes to build four other two-storey houses on the empty site, off Scar Lane.

The site, now in the Milnsbridge Conservation Area, was previously used as a railway goods yard and coal depot.

But it has remained empty for decades and used for flytipping.

A spokesman for GSK said: “The site was formerly used as a railway goods yard and a coal depot which is evidenced by the remaining coal drops on the central part of the site.

“The coal drops are considered to be an integral part of the history of the site and as such, the conversion element of the application would not only retain the chutes but bring them into viable use.

“The existing access has an interesting feature in that it has stone setts placed against it. Again the application would respect the site’s Conservation Area setting and retain the stonework.

“The coal chutes are unappealing in terms of visual amenity and the applicant has attempted to a sympathetic conversion whilst retaining their industrial function and style.”

The application, which was originally submitted but later withdrawn by GSK in 2009, has again been received by Kirklees Council planners.

A public consultation on the plan ends on February 7 and a decision is expected shortly after that date.