Gold-front mosque gets the green light

Plans for the redevelopment of the Masjid and Bangladeshi Islamic Centre in Smethwick - currently based in converted industrial units in Lewisham Road - were given the go-ahead on Wednesday.

The new three-storey structure will consist of two separate buildings linked by a central glazed atrium.

It will stand at the entrance to the Brindley Village II regeneration scheme consisting of almost 200 homes on a 12-acre site around Lewisham Road, Mafeking Road and the Birmingham Mainline canal.

Labour Councillor Zahoor Ahmed, who represents the St Paul's ward on Sandwell Council, welcomed the decision.

He said:"This is good news for the area. It is not a totally new mosque as they are already operating on the site but it will still be very useful for the community.

"If you look at the designs themselves, in that respect this is offering something new and something unique. It should be welcomed by all."

The application for the building was first approved in December 2013, but had been resubmitted with a different name to help the applicant secure funding.

Sandwell Council received 30 letters from residents in response to the proposals, 18 of which were discarded for being of a racist nature.

Nine raised concerns which included parking around the site and the design being out of character with the area.

The decorative gold aluminium screen has been inspired by Islamic religion and culture. Planned facilities include classrooms, an IT suite, gym and a prayer hall.

The same planning committee approved plans for a £3 million warehouse conversion to create a worship conference centre able to seat around 1,500 people.

The Forward in Faith ministry has been operating a small administrative centre in the warehouse on Hainge Road, Tividale, for three years, but is now keen to expand with the unit serving as the new UK and European headquarters for the ministry.

The ministry has over 500 members in Sandwell alone and is already established in Zimbabwe, the United States, Australia and South Africa.

Labour Councillor Susan Downing, who represents the Oldbury ward on Sandwell Council, said she was now satisfied with the scheme.

She said: "My concern had been that because this is in an industrial road and because there was going to be crèche facilities, I was concerned it could be commercial.

"There would have been coming and going, parents dropping children off, causing lots of traffic.

"After raising that with officers they spoke to the applicant's agent and we were told it would not be commercial but just for people who are using the centre."

Rev Misheck Nyambo, administrator at the ministry, said the centre would be used for their main conferences around six times a year.

The refurbishment of the warehouse will be funded by charitable donations from members of the ministry.