Mosque extension plans approved

Plans to extend the Jalalia Jaame Mosque on Nile Street by two floors have been approved despite concerns about the increase in traffic and on street parking which it will create.

The decision was made at a planning meeting held tonight (Tuesday 18 January 2011).

The planning committee approved proposals for first and second floor extensions to the existing Mosque and the erection of an additional minaret.

The first and second floor extensions will be positioned on the front section of the building facing Nile Street. The first floor extension will be as wide as the exiting building but at second floor level the extension will be 11.4m wide.

The extensions will increase the overall ridge height of the building to 10.4m. The existing flat roof section and dome at the rear of the Mosque will not be altered.

The report presented to the committee, reads: “As a result of the proposal the front elevation of the Mosque would be drastically altered.

“The front elevation onto Nile Street would be three storey and gable fronted with a large window in the middle which continues through all three levels and provides the entrance at ground floor level. On both sides of this large window would be smaller windows in each floor.

“The application also includes the erection of a second minaret tower to the front of the Mosque and a pitched roof above an existing covered area on the side elevation facing the residential dwellings on Ramsay Street.”

It adds: “The extensions would allow the Mosque to have two additional classrooms (one on each new floor) and toilet facilities. The design and access statement comments that the extra facilities would provide additional classes for female members of the community and empower the wider community to access many different uses of the expended Mosque.”

The application does not include any improvement or alteration to the existing car parking provision at the Mosque.

Concerns over parking around the Mosque were raised in the report.  It reads: “The Council’s Head of Highways and Engineering has objected to the application on the grounds that there is already a problem with on street parking in this area when the Mosque is in use and the problem would only be exacerbated by the increase in size and capacity of the building, for which no measures to improve car parking at the site have been included in the proposal. The application states that the proposal would create no extra burden on the traffic or parking as the majority of users are located within the neighbouring streets and will therefore walk to access the facilities as they currently do.

“Whilst in theory this appears acceptable, the reality is somewhat different as it is clear that traffic levels and on street parking increase significantly in this area when the Mosque is in use, particularly at prayer time, and therefore an increase in size and capacity will unquestionably increase the amount of traffic and on street parking in the area.”