20 June 2013
Last updated at 18:58 GMT

The Fat Cat Bar was a tenant of the Angel Hotel building when the fire broke out

Plans have been submitted to renovate a listed former hotel in Northampton which was seriously damaged by fire last year.

The Angel Hotel building on Bridge Street caught fire in 2012 causing its roof to collapse.

Its Irish owner Tony O’Brien has submitted an application for listed building consent to restore it and keep its facade.

The building was used by the Fat Cat Bar, which is expected to move back in.

Fire investigators concluded that the blaze started accidentally while work was taking place on the roof on the afternoon of 2 January 2012, while the bar was closed.

The building has been covered in scaffolding since the fire.

‘Wonderful building’

Northampton Borough Council said getting consent to alter the grade II-listed building is the first step in its restoration.

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of the council, said: “We all want to see this wonderful building come back into use.

“It is in a prime location in our town centre, and over the years has always been a popular venue.

“It is good news to see the first formal stages in getting all of the permissions needed to start work and bring the building back to life.”

Trevor Wood Consulting Engineers, which is the agent for the developer, said the building is believed to date back to the 1700s, with the current facade dating from about 1905.

The council will consider the application for listed building consent at a later date.