Rebuilding of demolished mosque approved

Plans to rebuild an established mosque in Rotherham have been approved.

The previously single-storey building on Broom Lane was recently demolished having operated as a mosque for more than a decade.

Objectors had claimed the proposed new two-storey development would cause "overshadowing", congestion and parking issues on the street.

But councillors approved the scheme after being told it closely resembled a previous proposal that was granted planning permission in 2018 but was ultimately never built.

The applicants said the old prayer hall doubled as a teaching space, creating practical difficulties, and dedicated classrooms would give children a better learning environment while separating lessons from worship.

The call to prayer will remain inside the building, with no proposal for it to be amplified outside.

The council received 67 representations about the scheme, with more opposed than supportive, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A separate petition backing the scheme attracted 85 signatures.

One objector told the meeting the proposed new building would "overshadow" neighbouring properties including a nearby care home and would "change the landscape of this quiet residential area".

Some residents questioned whether the building would fit with the surrounding housing.

At a planning meeting on Thursday, applicant Haseeb Patel said the 2018 scheme had not gone ahead when issues with the building's foundations were discovered.

"On this side of town this is the only place where children can access this type of faith-based education," he said.

Supporters describe the mosque as a community focal point and say many users live within walking distance.

Highways officers raised no objection, saying the rebuild was not intended to increase attendance and would have a similar traffic impact to the 2018 scheme.

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