Plans to turn vacant Stafford building into Mosque and community centre approved
Plans to turn a vacant building into a mosque and community centre have been approved. Stafford Muslim Community Centre submitted the proposals to bring the former industrial unit off Sandyford Street, Stafford back into use a place of worship and community facility.
The scheme received 39 letters of support, but also 42 objections, with concerns being raised over issues such as parking and flooding in the area. But planning committee members at Stafford Borough Council voted to approve the application, noting that highways and flood risk officers had not opposed the plans.
The proposals include an extension to the existing building to form entrances and a new single-storey outbuilding to be used as a mortuary. The main building will include multi-function prayer halls along with classrooms, a kitchen and office space.
Vehicular access will be via two existing entrances on Sandyford Street, and there will be a car park with 48 spaces. Objector Ian Carr told the planning committee he had concerns that people visiting the mosque would parking on nearby streets, exacerbating existing problems with congestion.
He said: “People will be coming into Stafford to go to the prayer centre who don’t know Stafford. They will park where they can, where there are no restrictions. If people from elsewhere are parking in front of people’s homes so they don’t have to pay for parking, that in itself is causing a problem.
“Sandyford Street itself has no parking restrictions but that is heavily used by people who park there for whatever reason, parking on the pavement. Families with pushchairs and people in mobility scooters can’t get past so they have to go out into the road.”
But highways officers considered the on-site parking provision to be sufficient, and raised no objections to the scheme, subject conditions. Flood risk officers also offered no objection, saying that while the site is at risk of flooding, there proposed use is considered ‘less vulnerable’, with mitigation measures being proposed as part of the plans.
Mohammed Afaq, agent for the applicants, said his clients had worked to address any concerns raised by officers.
He said: “We have looked at the parking, and noise and other issues. We’re quite happy with the conditions that are proposed as part of a possible planning approval. I’ve discussed them in detail with the client and they are more than happy to adhere to those conditions in terms of numbers and usage, and in terms of parking. From day one we’ve been quite open in responding to any query.”
Planning committee members Jill Hood believes the development will improve the area.
Cllr Hood said: “I’ve been to have a look at the area and it really is in a poor state. There’s litter everywhere and the building’s broken down. It seems that every condition has been met. We’ve had no objections from any agency, and the flooding agency says that it could actually help stop the flooding in the area. I think it’s good that there’s a building that will be made to look attractive.”
