A historic fire-damaged pub in Stoke-on-Trent could be turned into commercial units and apartments, if a planning application is approved.

An application to build a rear extension to the Leopard Hotel in Burslem, as well as demolish sections of the building "for safety reasons", has been submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

The plans would see two commercial units and 15 apartments created at the Grade II listed building, which suffered a "devastating" fire in 2022.

The application states: "The building became vacant in 2020 and was purchased by the current owners Daneets Investments in 2022. Unfortunately, the building was severely damaged by fire in 2022.

"The extensive fire damage has resulted in the partial collapse of the building make it unsafe to access.

"Safety / demolition works have been carried out in full consultation with the Council, however the site is still unsafe to enter and requires additional works to allow the remaining part of the building to be repaired and where appropriate replaced."

The application seeks "to regularise safety demolition works undertaken in November 2025 as well as consent for further essential safety works and secure the building's long-term future through a mixed-use redevelopment comprising two Class E units and fifteen apartments."

A planning application for one commercial unit and 17 flats at the site was previously submitted but withdrawn in 2025.

The new plans would see two ground floor commercial units created within the Market Place frontage, as well as nine two-bedroom apartments and six one-bedroom apartments.

While the frontage of the pub will be "retained and repaired wherever possible", the application explains that "the rear aspects of the building cannot be salvaged".

A planning statement submitted alongside the application states: "The scheme is heritage-led and viability-informed.

"It prioritises retention and restoration of the most significant surviving fabric, particularly the late eighteenth century main building and circa 1830 Market Place frontage, while replacing the irretrievably damaged rear aspect with a contemporary but sympathetic extension."

The application adds: "The applications present a coherent heritage-led response.

"The restored commercial frontage and reinstated cartway will animate Market Place, while residential occupation will provide the value, activity needed to sustain the building.

"The abnormal costs and constraints of a fire-damaged listed building make redevelopment exceptionally challenging. The proposal represents a realistic and sympathetic solution rather than speculative clearance or unjustified facsimile reconstruction."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has welcomed the progress but says "the continuing poor condition of the nationally important building on Market Street, Burslem, remains unacceptable and that action is still needed to prevent further deterioration".

In a media statement, Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for growth, regeneration and transport at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "People in Burslem have walked past the Leopard every day since the fire, and they have watched a building that is part of their town's story get worse. They are right to be fed up, and so am I.

"Burslem deserves to see the Leopard saved. This application is a real step forward, and it has come because we kept pressing the owner for it. But a plan on paper does not repair a building. What matters to people is what happens to the Leopard now, not in a few years' time.

"So our message to the owner is clear: the Leopard must not be allowed to deteriorate any further, and we will keep using every power available to us to protect it.

"Now residents get their say. If you care about the Leopard, please look at the plans and tell us what you think. We will keep people updated as the application goes through."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is yet to make a decision on the application.

To view the full planning application, follow the link here. To view the listed building consent application, follow the link here.