Fomer Conservative club to become ‘madrasa’ with boarding rooms

A former Conservative club is to be converted into a madrasa with boarding rooms. The three-storey building, on Halliwell Road in Bolton, was built in 1883 and has been used as a social club before closure several years ago. Applicants M A Mission Learning Centre have been granted planning permission to convert the premises into an madrasa or educational centre to work in conjunction with a nearby mosque.

The site had previously been given permission for a similar change of use but revised plans were submitted earlier this year. A statement in support of the plans, said: “The purpose of the application is the aim of creating a new design that would make the conversion feasible.

“We have redesigned the proposal to include four dormitory bedrooms on the proposed basement floor and nine classrooms across the proposed ground, first and second floors. “The building’s use will be change from a vacant Conservative club to a community centre and a madrasa (a place for learning).”

The application said the children’s learning centre will operate between the hours of 8am – 9pm and have four rooms for overnight boarding with seven beds. The application said care would be taken to retain as many features as possible, especially the façade.

There will be five car parking spaces at the rear. The applicant said that the approval would ‘bring back life and purpose to the property’. An officer report on the plans, said: “The immediate area of Halliwell Road is predominantly commercial in character, with adjacent uses including chemist, hair salon, convenience store and hot food takeaways.

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“The existing mosque is located approximately 90 metres away. “The mosque and community