PLANS to convert a warehouse into a mosque and education centre in Coventry are set for council planning approval.
The proposals would see an office building and a second hand furniture warehouse on Paynes Lane, Hillfields, converted to ‘provide a home’ to the city’s Swahili Muslim community.
The mosque, community and education centre would open from 8am until 9pm and for early morning and late evening prayers.
Coventry City Council’s planning officers have recommended approval and a decision will be made at a committee meeting on Thursday next week.
The application from Sapphire Building Design Consultancy was previously rejected due to insufficient information on the development’s noise impact and reduced parking provision.
A planning officer’s report states the council received 85 letters of objection covering concerns about traffic, the development not being suitable for a residential area, additional litter and noise pollution.
Other objections have argued there are already sufficient mosques in the area and there are better uses for the site such as retail, the report states.
There are expected to be 30 people at the centre at any one time and about 50 during Friday prayers, the report states.
It adds the development will also include 15 parking spaces.
The centre will also be used for congregational prayers five times per day, with the earliest at 4.15am and the latest at 11pm.
The report states: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and will not result in any significant impact upon neighbour amenity or highway safety, subject to relevant conditions.
“Furthermore, subject to conditions the noise and highway impacts of the development will be acceptable.
“The site has historically been used for warehouse and office purposes and there is a car repair garage adjacent and a carpet warehouse and industrial units to the west of Paynes Lane at this point, therefore the area is in mixed use and to describe it as a residential area is not accurate.
“It is also interesting to note that none of the objections are from addresses in Britannia Street or Wren Street, which would be most affected as they adjoin the site to the south and east.”
