Ex-Sunbeam factory to be transformed in Sikh temple's £1 million expansion
A landmark Sikh temple in Wolverhampton will undergo an expansive overhaul after plans worth up to £1 million were approved.
New prayer and dining halls will be built at a former factory at the back of the existing Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, in Upper Villiers Street.
A new entrance complete with a decorative Sikh dome will front Park Street South.
Once completed the existing halls will be refurbished and used for community activities which could include English classes.
The current Gurdwara and the old factory, now Grade-II listed, were once part of the site occupied by the Sunbeam Motor Car Company.
Surjit Singh Uppal, chairman of trustees at the temple, estimated the expansion could cost between £750,000 and £1m and said work would start within a few weeks.
He said: "We are absolutely delighted that the plans have been formally approved and we can now work on the details.
"At the moment we have got a kitchen but it is not very adequate especially if there is a wedding or big event - it can get really congested.
"The prayer hall at the moment needs refurbishing and we want to use that space for the community. At some time, once the extension is completed, we are going to start a school and run English classes. That is something new we want to be able to provide."
The new prayer and dining halls will occupy a building originally called Automotive House which was built as a factory at the beginning of the 20th century and used for producing cars by Sunbeam.
The extension will include a foyer area, a new kitchen, an office and toilets. The decorative dome with be complemented by four smaller turrets. Meanwhile the temple's parking area will be re-configured and improved.
As part of their application to Wolverhampton council, bosses claimed without the proposed alterations they would be forced to operate in 'unsatisfactory cramped conditions' which would 'severely compromise the ability to meet its social and cultural needs and standards and obligations expected by the community it serves'.
Community facilities currently operating from the Gurdwara include yoga classes and mother and toddler activities.
The charitable trust which runs the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara took over the premises in 1993.
Since 2000 bosses said they have ploughed nearly £1m into improving the facilities which are used by up to 600 people daily at weekends.
Mr Uppal, added: "The building was in a real state when we took over more than 20 years ago.
"We have already done a lot of work to improve our facilities here including putting a new roof on the premises.
"This further expansion is much needed and will help us improve how we operate."
Mr Uppal said work could be completed within around six months.
