Mosque is for the high jump

THE extension which breaches planning permission

Blunder No 2: extension is 8ft out
A WERNETH mosque could be forced to pull down an extension after it was illegally built 8ft too high.

The Taleem-Ul-Islam centre, acting as a mosque and learning centre (a madrassa) in Suffolk Street, faces enforcement action by Oldham Council after failing to build to the correct height, after gaining planning permission in 2008.

It’s the second such blunder as only last autumn there was an outcry when the Madina Mosque and Islamic Centre, in Clydesdale Street, Coppice, breached a planning condition after it was built 5ft too high.

The builders were accused of incompetence but the mosque’s leaders blamed the architects saying the ground should have been excavated to a depth of nearly 5ft and the mosque built partly below ground. The architects said the plans were misinterpreted.

And it’s been revealed that Oldham Council’s two enforcement officers are currently investigating 250 cases where planning conditions have been breached across the borough — including a sandwich shop in Royton and a terrace property acting as a mosque in Lees.

The council’s planning committee was due to hear the Suffolk Street mosque’s retrospective application for an increased roof height, new entrance porch and repositioned stairway, which had been recommended for refusal.

But the application was withdrawn by email at the last minute.

Chair of planning, Councillor Steve Bashforth said: “There is a clear breach of planning regulations and the council has a duty to uphold the rules and defend its policies.

“To this end the enforcement process has now been started and the applicant has been given notice of our intention to do so.

“The enforcement process is a legal one and so must be carried out as laid down by law and we will ensure this process is followed.”

No one from the mosque was available for comment, but its agent Pilgrim Associates Ltd, confirmed it had withdrawn the application but was unable to discuss the matter further.

Councillor Bashforth added: “As always, I would advise anyone who is considering carrying out building works without seeking advice on planning or building regulations to consider the consequences.

The council will take a strong line against breaches of the regulation.”

Elsewhere, the Madina Mosque in Stansfield Street has been approved permission to buy open space from the council for £30,000 and turn it into a car park.

It was also given the go ahead for a single storey side extension.