A BURNLEY pub could be transformed into 20 new flats.

Brewery Mitchells of Lancaster wants to turn the struggling Malt Shovel pub, in Hargrove Avenue, into eight apartments and build 12 new flats nearby.

Developers say the properties could sell for around £100,000 each and would put the Grade II-listed pub to good use And they insist the new-build apartments would be in keeping with the character of neighbouring buildings.

Alan Kinder, from Alan Kinder Associates, which is handling the application for Mitchells, said: “The pub is still open at the moment but historically its trading has been poor.

“The pub building itself is listed so the conversion will be handled very sympathetically.

“It will be only minor changes so it maintains the general appearance.

“The new buildings have been designed as four individual blocks of four apartments.”

Planning consent could be granted within the next couple of months but developers have been guarded about when work could start, given how vulnerable the housing market is.

Meanwhile, Mr Kinder played down any fears that the flats may be socially-rented and suffer a high turnover of tenants.

He said Mitchells was more likely to sell on the flats to private owners.

The proposed new buildings would be two storeys high with two apartments on each floor.

Each flat would have a large living room with adjoining kitchen and two bedrooms.

The application is likely to be put before councillors on Burnley Council’s planning committee in the next few months.

Mitchells was unavailable for comment.