Developer outlines homes plan for listed town pub
1:50pm Tuesday 8th May 2012 in News
By Amanda Greaves
The former Malt Shovel hotel in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where there are plans to convert the building into four houses and build five cottages in the car park
A Victorian pub in Burley-in-Wharfedale could be converted into four houses with five new cottages being built in its car park.
Leeds-based car park management company and property developer Yorparks has applied for permission to develop the former Malt Shovel hotel and its car park on Main Street.
The 1880s-built pub most recently traded as bar and restaurant The Malt, which closed early last year.
It had previously housed restaurant businesses.
The Grade-II listed building, owned by Punch Taverns, stands close to St Mary’s Parish Church and other historic village buildings, with a conservation area.
Toby Morton, of Yorparks, said the plan was to restore many of the building’s original internal features, and split it vertically, into four houses.
A meeting has already taken place at the site with a Bradford Council conservation officer.
The agent acting on behalf of the developer said The Malt had repeatedly proved unsuccessful, with similar facilities in better locations. In a heritage, design and access statement accompanying
the plan, Otley’s David R Bamford Chartered Architects, said: “In recent years the role of the inn within the village has significantly changed. Traditionally the majority of the population would
use the inn as the focus for village life.
“This is no longer the case, and for most people a trip to the pub is a rare occasion. The Malt has struggled for many years to find a new role.”
Initial consideration was given to converting the building into apartments, but it was felt the market would not be strong, the conversion work would be a compromise, and it would affect the
character of the building.
The architects firm said the proposed new houses on the car park would be a “modest sympathetic residential development”.
Yorparks has applied for listed building consent as well as full planning permission for the development.
Yorparks subsidiary company Yorplace is a developer of “high-end” housing schemes including two houses at Orchid Wood in Rawdon.
The planning application is expected to be determined by Bradford Council.
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or