What happened to Kirklees pubs which closed in the last five years after they called last orders has been revealed.

Between 2021 and 2025, Kirklees Council recorded 10 applications to transform old pubs, either approved or conditionally approved.

This comes as Housing Secretary Angela Rayner plans to announce new laws later this week to prevent pubs from being converted into houses and offices, in a bid to protect the hospitality industry.

For example, in Kirklees, residential applications were most frequent, according to research by property experts at Sell House Fast.

The Shepherds Boy. Credit: Empire House Dental.

placeholder image — The Shepherds Boy. Credit: Empire House Dental.

The former Sir Robert Peel Inn in Heckmondwike, later known as the Heckmondwike Tavern, became vacant after failing to remain commercially viable as a pub. Planning applications submitted to Kirklees Council proposed transforming the high street building into six one-bedroom residential flats.

Meanwhile, one of the earlier conversions on the list included a 2022 planning application submitted to Kirklees Council to redevelop the vacant Dale Inn on Wakefield Road in Denby Dale.

The proposal sought full permission to convert the stone-built former pub into two ground-floor retail units, along with three one-bedroom flats on the first floor.

Here is what happened to each of the 10 pubs after they shut down.

Sir Robert Peel Inn: The former pub in Heckmondwike is being converted into six one-bedroom residential apartments.
Waterloo Inn: The pub’s ground-floor space is being converted into two separate retail units, including a pharmacy.
Rose and Crown: The former pub is being repurposed into residential living space with dedicated on-site parking and electric-vehicle charging points.
Shepherds Boy: The building in Dewsbury was approved for conversion into a dental surgery with multiple treatment rooms, surgeries, and staff facilities.
Ford Inn: The site is being converted into two residential dwellings with associated garage parking and EV charging facilities.
143 Upper Commercial Street: The property is being repurposed entirely for private residential living spaces.
Apple Of My Pie: The venue is being converted into private residential flats/housing.
Armitage Arms: The former public house is being converted into residential use properties
Halifax Old Road: The building features a dual-purpose redevelopment that combines upstairs residential living with a ground-floor food-and-beverage/hospitality business.
The Dale Inn: The public house was approved for conversion into two ground-floor retail shop units with three one-bedroom residential flats above.