Plans for an Islamic prayer hall and community centre in South Cumbria have been approved.
The South Lakes Islamic Centre in Dalton was discussed by a meeting of Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
Much of the discussion centred around the height of the proposed building, to be sited at Crooklands Brow, Ulverston Road.
Planning officer Charles Wilton pointed out that outline permission had previously been granted for a two-storey building.
The proposal before councillors was for a three-storey building with a roof garden.
Mr Wilton told councillors that the nearest properties were 50m away. A pre-meeting report from case officer Barry Jesson said that this was sufficient to prevent any concerns with general noise or loss of privacy for neighbours.
“Ulverston Road is quite a wide road, it’s quite a spacious area, and, essentially, this report concludes that the site is capable of accommodating [the prayer hall],” said Mr Wilton.
Cllr Martin McLeavy said he had ‘a bit of concern’ about the height of the building.
“It’s going to be like a great beacon that’s going to be visible to every single part of the town,” he said.
Questions were asked about Japanese knotweed, with the pre-meeting report indicating the presence of the species at the site.
Mr Wilton said: “I would say the development is much more likely to eradicate invasive weeds than if the site is left undeveloped.”
A condition included as part of the approval states that the plant must be removed from the site in accordance with the approved methodology, with a verification report produced and submitted to the local planning authority to verify the removal prior to the beneficial use of the building.
The issue of parking was also raised. The development is to provide 17 spaces, including one for disabled parking and one for a minibus, and an additional motorcycle space.
Mr Wilton said: “They [the highways authority] confirmed in writing – it’s in the report – that they are satisfied with the level of parking proposed.”
He stressed that, as outline permission had previously been granted for the site, the principle of development was established.
