Plans to enhance the facilities at a thriving Blackburn mosque have been met with overwhelming community support. Masjid-E-Gausia, located on Chester Street in the Audley Range area near the town centre, has submitted a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council seeking permission to raise the building’s roof in order to accommodate six new classrooms for its madrassah.
The proposed development has received a petition containing 220 signatures from local residents and users of the mosque, who believe the extension will significantly benefit the community’s educational needs. The mosque, known as Jamia Ghosia Mosque and Academy, has long served as a spiritual and educational hub for the local Muslim population.
In a statement accompanying the application, mosque representatives emphasized the importance of the extension, saying:
“Jamia Ghosia Mosque and Academy is a well-respected community institution, offering both religious and educational services. The additional classrooms are intended to improve the existing infrastructure and meet the needs of current attendees. This development is not aimed at increasing capacity, but rather at enhancing the quality of the facilities for current users.”
The application includes modifications to the existing roof structure and the addition of dormer windows to support the new classrooms.
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On Thursday, May 22, the local authority’s planning and highways committee was updated on the progress of the application. Planning Manager Gavin Prescott confirmed that the petition supporting the plans was officially received on April 25. He reported to the committee:
“The petition highlights the need for more classroom space within the mosque’s existing footprint and stresses that the proposed development is unlikely to create new parking or noise concerns.”
Despite the broad support, the council has also received three formal objections from local residents. These concerns are being carefully reviewed as part of the ongoing assessment process.
Prescott added that the application, if recommended for approval, will be presented to the planning and highways committee for a formal decision due to the public interest shown.
The supporting statement concluded that the goal is not expansion in terms of attendance but the creation of more functional educational spaces.
“The six new classrooms are designed to improve learning environments for those already using the facility. No significant increase in usage or noise is expected as a result of the changes.”
The application remains under consideration, with all relevant planning factors set to be evaluated before a final decision is made.