Overton: Plan to demolish 18th Century Reindeer Inn for homes

The detached stone building dates back to 1704 but is not listed

A Wakefield pub dating back to the 1700s could be demolished to make way for houses.

Overton's Reindeer Inn is no longer a viable business after 60% drop in income since the pandemic, a report to Wakefield Council said.

Instead the pub, which is opposite the National Coal Mining Museum, could have five houses built in its place.

The detached stone building dates back to 1704 but is not listed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A planning statement on behalf of the applicant said the existing owners had been at the pub for over 17 years and income has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The report says the area was well served by other pubs, including the Black Swan, approximately 400m (1,312ft) away, and the Albion House at Middlestown which was one mile (1.6km) away.

"Staff levels at the Reindeer Inn have dropped from 11 to four," the statement said.

"Meanwhile, energy prices are now costing £1,200 for January's electricity and £350 for gas for the same period, with the possibility that they may rise even further in future."

Before March 2020, around 120 Sunday lunches were sold at the pub but that has dropped to 27, the report said.

These combined factors meant the owners have explored other avenues, leading to the planning proposals.

'Quaint building'

If passed, there would be three detached and two semi-detached houses on the site, all with private drives and garages.

The scheme includes building on land leading down to New Road, part of which is a disused playground.

Outbuildings near to the pub would also be demolished if the scheme was approved with access from Old Road.

"Due to the ongoing non-viability of the business, and with no foreseeable upturn in the near or distant future [...] the best option is to generate income by developing the site for residential purposes and provide needed family accommodation," the report said.

Three people have objected with one saying the inn is a "quaint building dating back centuries", well-used by miners and loyal customers.

Another said there are "so few older buildings left" in the village and the "lovely, well-built stone property" is "part of Overton's identity" and a "local landmark for centuries" with "no good reason" to demolish it.

Of the two comments in support of the plans, one said the pub was always empty when they passed and a pub further down the road could instead be used as a community building.