Oldham Council Approves New Prayer and Community Hall in Westwood
Oldham Council’s planning committee voted on September 10 to allow the construction of a two-storey building next to an existing mosque in Westwood. Fourteen of the 15 members supported the application, while one councillor abstained.
Planning documents show the ground floor will serve as a prayer hall for Muslims, while the upper floor will be used as a community space. The proposal attracted about 100 public comments, with views almost evenly divided, The Oldham Times reported on Monday.
Those opposing the development cited concerns over traffic and parking, arguing it could worsen congestion and “make the neighbourhood even less liveable.”
Martin Spencer, representing the mosque committee behind the plan, acknowledged existing traffic issues near Neville Street and Middleton Road. He told councillors that steps such as adding a “keep clear” box had been suggested to ease congestion. He added that the prayer hall would mainly be used during the day, while the community hall would operate in the evening, reducing parking conflicts.
Supporters of the project said it would be a benefit for all residents, pointing to the inclusive use of the community hall.
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A planning officer noted that the site currently holds a steel structure left from an earlier, unfinished project approved in 2020. Permission for that development lapsed after pre-conditions were not met.
Oldham, part of Greater Manchester in northwest England, has one of the largest Muslim populations in the UK outside London. Around 24% of residents identified as Muslim in the 2021 Census, compared with about 6.5% nationwide, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Source: Agencies
