Calderdale village pub visited by Coldplay's Chris Martin could become housing

Members of Calderdale Council’s planning committee are being advised to approve a change of use of the Duke of York, on Stainland Road in Stanlaind, when they meet on Tuesday.

It was only last summer that the pub was visited by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

Speaking to the Courier at the time about the singer, the landlord said: “He was trying to keep it a low key visit and didn’t want any photos taken but he was chatting with people and handing out badges to fans.”

The planning application going before the committee is to convert the pub into three homes – two with two bedrooms and one with one bedroom.

Three parking spaces are proposed at the front of the building.

The council has received 35 letters of objection, voicing concerns including about insufficient parking, the potential loss of “village life” and a community hub, and loss of employment.

Stainland and District Parish Council has also objected.

But planning officers are recommending the proposal be approved, saying: “The public house is unoccupied and the proposal would result in the building having a new use and bring about its ongoing maintenance and future.”

Their report states that The Duke of York was closed by previous tenants on July 30 last year.

"Although a subsequent tenant did take over and try to re-establish the business, the local planning authority received confirmation from the agent on September 1 that they had also closed, due to the pub continuing to run at a significant loss,” says the report.

"The applicant has submitted additional evidence in the form of a viability assessment dated June 2026, to further support their claim that the pub is no longer viable to operate.”

The assessment notes that in 12 months of trading, the pub was only selling a barrel of beer a week – less than a quarter of what might make the site viable – and the owner had been making a £1,000 per week since June 2025.

“The assessment states that current trade levels are significantly below those required to sustain a viable operation, with sales reportedly at around one quarter of the level needed to break even,” says the planning officers’ report.

"It highlights substantial increases in labour, energy and operating costs since 2018, together with limited passing trade, poor accessibility, restricted parking provision and strong competition from nearby venues in West Vale and the surrounding area.

"Benchmark modelling submitted by the applicant suggests that, even under optimistic trading scenarios, the business would continue to generate substantial annual losses, with a break-even turnover considered unrealistic for a public house of this size and location.

“Officers are satisfied that sufficient evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the public house is no longer commercially viable and that reasonable efforts have been made to retain the existing use.”

No community group has come forward with an interest in taking on the pub, the report adds.