The Grade II listed coal drops in Station Road, Sowerby Bridge, have long been considered an archaeological landmark of the town and are thought to date back to 1875.

It was here that goods wagons unloaded coal into lorries.

But after lying unused for nearly half a century, the coal drops have fallen into disrepair.

Original plans to turn them into offices and apartments were rejected by Calderdale Council in 2003, due to the noise and vibration from nearby train tracks and factories. But, this time, Bradford-based developer Stephen Black and his architects are confident of success and say there will be no rattling tea-cups in the proposed seven new properties.

Peter Denton, a Halifax-based architect, said: "We have been in intense discussions with all parties and it seems very positive.

"We want to build them so they look like the original coal drops and it is lovely to be able to preserve this heritage.

"Some of the Halifax ones are going to rack and ruin."

The coal drops were built out of rock-face stone, timber and iron, along with the adjoining railway bridge, for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

In 1876 Sowerby Bridge station moved to its current site by the coal drops. Calderdale Council is considering the planning application.