Westwood to get new prayer hall and community centre

Oldham Council has given the green light for a ‘much-needed community hub’ to expand its facilities – but some are worried the extension will cause a ‘traffic nightmare’. 

Plans to build a new prayer hall and community space next to Westwood Mosque, at Compass House off Neville Street, were given the go-ahead by councillors last week. The two-storey building will be community-funded and provide room for worship and education, according to the Islamic Forum Trust charity. 

The 1,100 square metre development is on brownfield land at the site of a former car park. The site previously received planning permission for a one-storey community hall, but the partially-built structure was abandoned after certain planning conditions could not be met. 

Now the plot, which is flanked by Ahmed Bros Cash and Carry and the existing Compass House Learning Centre, could soon be given a new lease of life. 

The application divided opinion in the local community, with more than 50 supporters praising the project, while 27 locals objected to the new build. 

One supporter expected the new space to become a ‘vibrant, multi-purpose community hub that will provide educational programs, social activities, and support services for the local Muslim population, while also fostering inclusion and interfaith dialogue. 

“By encouraging mutual understanding and cooperation between people of all backgrounds, the mosque will play a valuable role in strengthening community cohesion,” they added. 

Objectors raised concerns about the ‘existing traffic chaos’ in the area.

“Adding a large community hall on the second floor in this already congested residential area – squeezed between an existing mosque next door and the cash and carry on the other side – will only make things worse,” one wrote.

“The area is already struggling with severe traffic congestion, parking shortages, and noise. Roads are already gridlocked during busy periods and visitors parking on the street leave residents without spaces near their homes.” 

An agent for the applicants, Mr Martin Spencer, reassured the planning committee at a planning meeting last week that though ‘congestion does occur at the junction of Neville Street and Middleton Road’, the use of the space would not regularly overlap with existing functions.  

Mr Spencer added: “There are also very good public transport links situated on Middleton Road. And the first floor community space would primarily be in use in the evenings, so we don’t foresee an overlap in car parking requirements that would cause problems.” 

The site has 56 private car parking spaces, one disabled space, three cycle parking spaces, and is also 15 mins from tram and 250 metres from the nearest bus stops. 

The new prayer hall was almost unanimously approved by the planning committee, with one abstention, after councillors elected to skip the discussion. The new hall will be subject to conditions such as the use of the building being restricted to between 7am and 11pm.