A super mosque for up to 1,000 worshippers could be built inside the Trocadero building at London’s Piccadilly Circus if planning permission is granted.
Developers have submitted plans to Westminster Council to convert parts of the former basement cinema into a community centre and event spaces.
The Aziz Foundation said the new mosque would help provide prayer space in a location where there was “a significant shortfall in places of worship”.
The education charity for British Muslims is owned by Asif Aziz, who set up property giant Criterion Capital and in 2005 bought the London Trocadero and Piccadilly Hotel for £225m. He was originally born in Malawi and moved to London aged 6.
The Trocadero was originally built as a restaurant in 1896 and turned into an exhibition centre and entertainment space in the 1980s.
The application has received more than 700 comments on the council website with many arguing against it.
Some have objected to potential increased traffic, with others claiming that a place of worship is not in keeping with an area famous for its bars, clubs, casinos and nightlife. They said that
The proposed mosque site received permission for use as a community and arts centre in 2018, a decision is set to be towards the end of the year.
Unity News Network (UNN) Staff Writer | To find out more details about our staff, please head to the About Us section on our website.
