Plans submitted to create two apartments at historic Miners' Institute
Plans have been submitted to convert part of a historic Miners' Institute near South Elmsall into two one-bedroom apartments.
The application, lodged with Wakefield Council by the Craig Williams Trust, seeks permission to convert existing residential accommodation within the Miners' Institute on Barnsley Road, Moorthorpe.
The proposals also include landscaping works and alterations to the site's parking area, increasing the number of spaces from 18 to 20.
Planning documents submitted in support of the application say the conversion would help safeguard the long-term future of the building.
An accompanying heritage statement says: "The new proposals to create two apartments from the existing residential part of the property, will help protect the buildings future by providing a use that is sustainable."
The Miners' Institute is recognised by Wakefield Council as a Building of Local Interest and has a long association with the area's mining heritage, serving generations of residents from Moorthorpe, South Elmsall and South Kirkby.
According to the heritage statement and the council's conservation assessment, the building became an important social and political venue, welcoming visitors including George Lansbury, Edgar Lansbury, Sinn Féin representatives and suffragettes.
It also staged sporting events, community activities and was associated with allotments which are still in use today.
The heritage statement adds that the institute "clearly served an important role in the day-to-day lives of people from surrounding settlements where collieries provided employment", but says its role declined following the closure of nearby pits.
Parts of the complex have already been converted for residential use, while other parts of the building remain in use, including as a martial arts dojo.
Wakefield Council's conservation officer has raised no objection to the principle of the latest proposal.
In comments published as part of the application, the officer said: "There are no conservation objections to the principle of the proposal."
The report notes that the external alterations would be minimal, consisting mainly of minor changes to openings and alterations to the parking layout.
While it notes that some historic features have been lost through previous alterations, it says the building retains distinctive architectural features including its decorative entrance, carved stone nameplate and a stone carving of a coal miner above the former main entrance.