More than £770,000 is to be spent on improving the appearance of a town’s buildings and creating new jobs.

Three sites in Burslem will be transformed, thanks to cash from regeneration project the Burslem Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

Fast-food giant KFC will receive £141,541 – the biggest chunk of the money – and will put another £377,769 towards work to improve the outside of its building in Market Place.

The project will also help bring the upper floor back into use and will safeguard 16 jobs at the restaurant.

KFC was due to move out, but will now expand instead, creating 11 new part-time and full-time posts.

Burslem School of Art will receive £43,079 and contribute another £28,760 towards work to improve the exterior and interior of its Orangery.

The 100-year-old facility was once used to store plants for still-life drawings and later became a place for students at the school to socialise.

Work on it will start next month and is expected to be completed by February.

Cath Ralph, school chief executive, said: “The Orangery is in poor condition, but it is important to us and the history of the building. It needs to last us another 100 years. Eventually, we’d like to see it turned into a small coffee shop and cool hangout.”

Under the scheme, the Market Place building which houses CAB Insurance will be re-roofed, undergo lead works, have its brickwork cleaned and chimney pots replaced. The shop front and signs will also be replaced.

CAB will contribute £55,135, with a grant for £133,153.

Burslem THI has already helped to repair and renovate 21 properties in the town centre and conservation area.

Councillor Hazel Lyth, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for economic development and culture, said: “We are working hard to bring real improvements to Burslem in order to pull people into the town and strengthen the economy.

“The take up of the scheme has been encouraging and the improvement works carried out on the buildings in the area are making a noticeable difference.”