TWO Huddersfield pubs are set for a change of use after coming onto the market.

In an emerging trend, the Railway at Honley and the Rose and Crown at Netherton are the latest pubs to be earmarked for new commercial use.

Both pubs are being marketed by Hanson Chartered Surveyors, who are also acting for the owner of the Grey Horse at Birchencliffe.

Jason Metcalfe, a director at Hanson Chartered Surveyors, said planning approval had been granted for a change of use at the Railway to provide a restaurant, a shop unit and offices.

The pub would house the ground-floor restaurant and first floor offices while a cottage alongside would be converted to provide the shop.

Mr Metcalfe said: “We have had reasonable interest in the restaurant with quite a few viewings.”

Planning permission is being sought for the Rose and Crown to be converted to provide three ground-floor shop units with a residential flat above.

Hanson is marketing the pub on behalf Huddersfield-based property developer Sandhu Leisure, which bought the pub for an undisclosed sum off an asking price of £165,000.

Meanwhile, the owner of the Grey Horse is hoping to refurbish the pub and let it or demolish the building to provide space for retail.

The Red Lion, at Lockwood, which has been empty for more than three years, is also being refurbished and is set to be used for retail projects.

Among other recent deals, the Pack Horse at Southowram is set to be converted to residential use following its sale by business agents Christie + Co to a locally-based businessman.

Mr Jason said disused pubs were proving attractive because they often occupied prominent positions and had potential for commercial use – often in areas where there was little scope for such development.

Commenting on current market conditions, he added: “There are a few things starting to come out of the ground now. There are more speculators coming back into the market and more signs of activity.”