Shops on pub site could take £1.5m in trade

Shahid Patel wants to redevelop the Swan Inn site in Mirfield after failing to attract a retailer to take on the existing building.

The pub in Huddersfield Road, which lies close to the border with Ravensthorpe, has been shut since 2010.

The proposed development would consist of a small-scale convenience store and two other units, which could potentially be used for retail, a cafe or restaurant, or a hot food takeaway.

It is estimated that the three units would take around £1.5m in trade from existing shops in Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.

This equates to around 7.4 per cent of total trade in Mirfield and 8.18 per cent in Ravensthorpe.

An application submitted to Kirklees Council by agent Robert Halstead highlighted the poor condition of the building, which has been vandalised.

It said Mr Patel, the son of Dewsbury South councillor Salim Patel (Con), had secured permission to change the use of the site from pub to retail units in February 2012.

But two years on, there has been little interest from potential tenants.

The application said: “The applicant has explored options to bring the building and site back into use.

“The size and layout of the existing building has meant there has been no interest from retailers willing to take on the building.

“This has left the applicant with no option other than to demolish the existing building and construct new buildings that are attractive to the market.”

There would be 34 parking spaces, including four disabled spaces, and work to improve access.

Although no tenants have been found at this stage, the opening times listed are 7am-10pm daily with hours of 8am-10pm on Sundays.

Public consultation ends on March 10.

The Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee will then consider the application.