Plans to turn a disused town centre pub into flats and shops have been approved. Caldmore Residential Ltd requested permission to convert The Barrel, in Tower Square, Tunstall, into four apartments, two retails units and an office.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has now granted planning permission for the scheme, subject to conditions. The Barrel was formerly known as the Crown and Anchor and dates back to the 19th century.

But according to the planning application, the building has been 'much altered' over the years and now has 'very limited heritage significance'. The pub has been closed for a while and was sold at auction last year.

The application states: "The Barrel public house, formerly the Crown & Anchor, is not discussed as making any contribution, positive or negative, to the character of the Tower Square conservation area. The building retains some limited heritage significance given its apparent age and potential to contain earlier remnants. However, it has been substantially altered, particularly externally, and much of the original 19th century vernacular character has been lost.

"The replacement of the existing windows with look-a-like double glazed units will serve to ensure that the property is brought more in line with modern standards of living, safeguarding the continued occupation of a currently redundant building in the centre of Tunstall."

Under the proposals, the ground floor would be turned into the shops and office unit, along with part of a one-bedroom duplex apartment. Three more one-bedroom flats would be situated on the first floor. There will be some 'minor alterations' to the building, including the unblocking of windows and the replacement of doors with windows.

The site will include two off-street parking spaces, which will be available to residents and employees of the businesses, on a first-come, first-served basis. Highways officers said that the 'sustainable' town centre location meant it would be difficult to object to the application on highway grounds.