Plans to transform a Grade II-listed former bank building in Stoke-on-Trent into flats have been refused by the local council.

The building, on Fountain Place in Burslem, dates back to the 1870s but has stood empty since 2017 after NatWest closed the branch.

Probuild Barton Ltd applied for permission to transform the building into seven flats, including two bedsits.

Part of the ground floor and the whole of the first and second floors would have been turned into five self-contained one-bedroom flats and two studio apartments. The rest of the ground floor would have been retained as office space.

According to the planning statement, the applicant bought the property at auction in 2021 'with a view to bringing the grand building back into use'. The building sits within Burslem conservation area and close to two other listed buildings, but the applicant says that 'no level of harm' would be caused to them.



The building dates back to the 1870s but has stood empty since 2017 (Google).

The plans state: "The principle of the proposed development is acceptable, making a positive contribution to the vitality of Burslem town centre. The less than substantial harm to the former NatWest Bank would be outweighed by the clear public benefits of the proposal in securing the continued positive contribution of the building to the character of the conservation area and setting of adjacent listed buildings."

A decision notice, published this week, says: "The council considered this application and hereby refuses planning permission for the development described above in accordance with the submitted plans, drawings and other documents."

Various reasons were listed for this decision, including the application not being supported by a complaint noise impact statement or air quality impact assessment.

The notice also says: "The layout of the ground floor gives rise to unacceptable amenity impacts and it fails to accord with the advice set out within the LPA's Urban Design Guide by forcing a main entrance into a secondary elevation which would not form part of the existing or well-defined street frontage."

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