PLANS to turn a disused village pub into shops and a café have been given the green light.

The application for the Old Saw Inn at Spen Lane in Gomersal, involves a small extension to the existing buildings, in order to create the small shop units.

It also involves creating a first-floor flat.

Kirklees Council planners have approved the plans, following one objection to the proposals.

In Ryan Parkinson’s plans, it describes how the old pub has been out of use for a number of years, along with the existing flat and café unit, which are also empty.

In the report from planners, it details how the lone objector complained that building work had already begun on site and that the pub itself was not redundant having been open last summer.

Planning officers said they had carefully considered the comments and had been on site as well.

In terms of the pub no longer being viable, they added in the report: “In their supporting statement, the applicant cites The Wheatsheaf and Bulls Head Inn as specific examples of alternative provision.

“Both facilities are open and are located within the settlement of Gomersal serving this locality. The proposal is approx. 1km away from Cleckheaton Town Centre which has a number of pubs currently trading in the centre.

“As the Old Saw Inn is located between Cleckheaton and Gomersal and would have served these two areas it is considered that there are adequate alternative facilities which are in more accessible locations.”

They added that The Old Saw Inn is not listed as an asset of community value.

The report from planning officers adds: “The front extension would be extended to infill the undeveloped section to the front of the dwelling.

“The existing part-built single-storey feature on the southern side of the dwelling would be completed with a flat roof design.

“The ground floor internal layout would include two shops with WCs and a store room and there would be a kitchen and service area in the southern element.

“The first floor would include a flat with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shared kitchen and living space.”

A bid was made in 2019 to partially demolish the pub in order to convert the remainder into a pair of semi-detached homes, as well as build a detached three-bedroom house in the car park.

The application was later withdrawn.