A GRADE II listed manor house gutted by fire could be renovated into a home.

Arsonists torched the 16th century Sparth Manor House, in Clayton-le-Moors, wrecking the one-time restaurant’s ground floor last July.

Now Oswaldtwistle man Alan McSorle wants to buy the property with his wife and has lodged a planning application to convert it for residential use.

Building surveyor and designers Flanagan Design Associates Ltd said: “The prospective purchasers of Sparth Manor are seeking Listed Building Consent and planning approval to change the use to a private domestic dwelling, to carry out repair work to the fire and water damage, and to insert new oak doors and frames into three existing door openings at the rear of the building. Also to carry out a re-roof of the stone slates and gable copings and kneelers.”

Cllr Tim O’Kane said: “The building’s listed status means they are limited to what they can do to it, and it’s a very historic building.

“We have to welcome the fact somebody is willing to put some money into it.

“I would have thought it would have been a community building but of course with the money being so tight all round nobody can afford to lavish money out on things.

“The amount of money for repairs just now is pretty high.”

The building, which was up for sale for £250,000, was extensively damaged by smoke during the arson attack last year.

Built by the Rishton family in 1556, it was a hotel and gastro pub until it closed in 2012.

Celebrity chef Nigel Howarth’s first job in the food industry was waiting tables at the restaurant when he was in college.