Plans for bigger mosque in Brierley Hill

Another Black Country mosque could be demolished and rebuilt in a bid to accommodate the growing Muslim community.

The Rizvia Mosque, in Trinity Street, Brierley Hill, has submitted plans to Dudley Council to flatten its existing building and replace it with a new mosque and community centre.

Members originally submitted similar £1.2 million plans in 2007 but, following a year of wrangling over the number of car parking spaces, they were withdrawn.

The Express & Star reported that the long established Ghausia Mosque in Lye High Street had also submitted plans to demolish its existing building, to replace it with a more modern place of worship and a new community centre for the wider community.

The Ghausia redevelopment is expected to cost in the region of £1.5 million and will be funded by donations from worshippers and cash saved by the mosque.

Rizvia Mosque's application has been submitted on behalf of the Muslim Welfare Association and includes plans to expand its site to accommodate more worshippers.

The Rizvia Mosque has 80 members who visit the site at various times to pray. The plans are expected before the council's development and control committee during the coming months.