Plans to restore the historic 'Cathedral of the Potteries' have been approved.

Re-Form Heritage secured £521,737 of funding from Historic England earlier this year to carry out extensive repair works at Bethesda Chapel in Hanley.

The Grade II* listed Methodist chapel dates back to 1819 and since closing for active worship 40 years ago it has deteriorated badly, and the building is currently on the Heritage at Risk register.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has now granted listed building consent for a raft of internal and external repairs to the chapel.

The railings along on Albion Street will be repaired and redecorated, along with the front of the building and the main entrance doors.

Boarded-up doors on the east side of the building will be reinstated to match those on the west side.

Inside the chapel, both sets of staircases will be repaired and former glazed ceilings will be replaced (image via LDRS)

Inside the chapel, both sets of staircases will be repaired and former glazed ceilings will be replaced. Areas of missing or damaged wall panelling will be reinstated, and a missing cornice, which has been 'lost in its entirety', will be replaced, with its design based on historic photographs.

The application states: "The proposal will substantially contribute towards the conservation of the asset. Therefore, we believe that the effect of the proposal is positive."

A delegated decision report says the proposed works will 'preserve and enhance the historical listed building', and therefore align with planning policies.

Bethesda Chapel was founded by wealthy industrialists and leaders of the New Connexions movement, and was the largest Methodist chapel outside London.

The building, which twice hosted the Methodist Conference during the 19th century, is described as 'an outstanding example of Victorian Methodist architecture' in the planning application.

Re-Form Heritage took on the Bethesda Chapel from its former owner the Historic Chapels Trust.

The charity, which runs Middleport Pottery, plans to bring the chapel back into use an exhibition and performance space, as well as a base for specialist arts educator Pinc College.