Mosque set to be demolished to make way for larger building

Plans for a new mosque to replace ‘outdated’ buildings have been unveiled.

The proposals, which have been lodged in the past week to demolish the existing Masjid E Bilal Islamic centre on Bury Old Road, Prestwich, will see it replaced with a bigger, new buildin. This, it is hoped, will include a mortuary, a library, social space and new classrooms.

The Islamic centre has been operating from the site since 1999 and is described in documents in support of the plans as a ‘popular community facility for both adults and children in the surrounding local area’. The mosque is run by volunteers provides a prayer hall for the Muslim community for their five obligatory daily prayers.

During evenings and weekends, the centre also provides a facility for teaching Islamic studies, including Quran classes and also provides services including dispute resolution, marriage counselling and support for women.

Previous plans for a three-storey centre at the site were withdrawn after Bury Council expressed concerns about a much more intensified use than the existing building. The revised plans are for a two-storey building which is set back from the road.

A design and access report in support of the plans said: “The Islamic centre has long term plans in providing a more permanent building for the site. The mosque is ready to make a material start for the development.

“The committee members of the facility do not find it feasible nor viable for a continuation of extensions added to the existing building. The extensions to the building have been ad hoc, and over a long period of time, leading to a number of uncharacteristic additions which are considered to not relate well with the overall character of the area.”

A total of 20 parking spaces