Full plans for a prayer centre and community hall in South Cumbria have been revealed.
The South Lakes Islamic Centre at Dalton-in-Furness would function as a place of worship and a community outreach facility.
It would be built on an area of land of around 1,000 sq metres in size at Crooklands Brow, Ulverston Road.
Outline planning permission for the site was granted in March 2020.
According to a planning statement from Steven Abbott Associates LLP, it was considered more straightforward to approach the proposed design and layout in a full application, which has now been submitted, rather than through a reserved matters application.
A digital image has also been released revealing the planned appearance of the prayer centre.
The planning statement says a public exhibition was held at Dane Ghyll Community Primary School in Barrow on October 9.
The statement says the feedback received was ‘incredibly positive’ and that ‘people were very impressed with the design of the proposed building’.
The design and access statement reveals more detail about the proposed layout of the building.
It says the ground floor would be a public space used as a multi-function community hall.
“The first floor is a semi-private prayer space which will mostly be used during specific prayer service,” it says. “The second floor is reserved for private space and will consist of two shared office spaces.
“The roof is a public space that has a proposed communal garden for relaxation and reflection – it will also take advantage of the amazing landscape views surrounding the site.”
Buildings around the site are a mixture of commercial and residential use. The site itself, according to the planning statement, comprises mainly unused grassland which has become overgrown.
Negative reaction from some members of the public when the proposal was first put forward two years ago prompted community figures to speak out.
Shaun Blezard, borough councillor for the Dalton South ward, said at the time: “I personally welcome another community space where people have the freedom to practise their beliefs in peace and freedom.”
