A renewed effort to establish a dedicated mosque for Blackburn’s Kurdish community has been made, following the rejection of a previous proposal last year. In January, an application to convert a terraced house on Harrison Street was turned down by Blackburn with Darwen Council due to concerns over noise, parking, and road safety.
This time, a fresh planning request has been submitted to repurpose a vacant two-story Victorian villa at 40D Preston New Road, situated within the Corporation Park Conservation Area. The proposal, initiated by the secretary of the Kurdish Community Centre, seeks to transform the former office space into a mosque and Islamic education hub for approximately 20 worshippers.
According to a statement from Urban Future Planning Consultancy, the building is a Gothic Revival-style Victorian villa featuring red brick, a slate roof, and a gabled facade with a curved bay window. Previously used as office space and an NHS dental practice, the premises are currently unoccupied.
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The proposal outlines plans to convert the ground floor into a prayer area, complete with essential ablution facilities, while the upper floor would house three small classrooms for after-school madrassa sessions. The design ensures that the direction of prayer aligns with the Qibla, an important element for Islamic worship. The submission emphasizes minimal external modifications, preserving the historical character of the structure.
The planning statement highlights Blackburn’s significant Muslim population, which is the third highest among UK local authorities and the largest outside London. The document also notes that similar community facilities, such as churches and mosques, commonly exist within residential areas to serve local populations.
The application underscores that daily attendance at the mosque would be modest, averaging around 20 worshippers, with most arriving on foot from nearby neighborhoods. Additionally, the proposal confirms that there will be no external call to prayer system or amplified sound equipment included in the project.
The council will now review the application before making a decision on whether to approve the development.