Cheadle Mosque upgrade set for planning approval

Stockport Council will decide today on a proposed upgrade of the current mosque, to improve facilities and create a purpose-built Cheadle Mosque and Community Centre.

The Wilmslow Road site has been used as a mosque since 2004.  Cheadle Masjid, who own the site, want to redevelop the 1960s buildings and offer improved community and education facilities. The current buildings struggle with overcrowding during Friday prayers.

Plans detail a new geometric window screen and re-modelled entrance area. An enlarged Mihrab indicates the direction of Mecca, and will be the new focal point for the building.  The floorplan ensures the prayer hall faces Mecca without changes to the building’s position or footprint.

The planning decision comes after Cheadle Masjid withdrew a previous redevelopment proposal due to cost, which featured alterations to the roof. The original architect’s designs proved difficult to put into practice.

Stockport Council’s Cheadle area committee have backed approval of the plans for the redevelopment. The committee also supported the previous plans.

Planning officers recommended Stockport Council approve proposals, but made clear concerns about parking and traffic in the area around Friday prayers. However, officers acknowledged the suggestions made by Cheadle Masjid to mitigate this. In the statement supporting the Cheadle Mosque redevelopment, they said:

On the basis that attendance will not materially increase, the proposed development is clearly acceptable, however, there remains the opportunity through the provision of additional floorspace for increased demand to be accommodated within the development.

“It is considered that given the provision of additional parking, formalisation of the existing traffic management plan and introduction of a travel plan, all of which can be secured by condition, there will be no material harm to highway safety.”

Stockport Council’s planning committee meets today, 21^st November. In addition to the Cheadle Mosque proposal, the committee will also decide on whether to grant permission for the conversion of a former bakery in Cheadle Hulme to apartments.