Islamic centre expansion at Tipton And Tividale Islamic Centre, Tipton

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing a former chapel and extending the existing Islamic centre with linked buildings, prayer space and parking.

“DC/25/70634 Application Description Demolition of former chapel building and two storey expansion of existing Islamic centre. Application Received 15 May 2025 Application Address Tipton And Tividale Islamic Centre 24 - 25 Gate Street Tipton Report Author…”

“Oldbury Appendices (if any) 1. 2282.LP. REV A – location plan 2. 2282.SP – Site plan 3. 2282.02 – existing elevations 4. 2282.01 REV B – existing floor plans 5. 2282.04 REV A – proposed elevations 6. 2282.03 REV C – proposed floor plans 7. 2282.05 REV B– proposed sections/3D views 8. 2282.06 – proposed sections/3D views…”

Officer report

The site

The site lies in a residential area beside community open space, with buildings fronting Gate Street and Hopkins Street.

“The Application Site 5.1 The application site is a within a residential area immediately adjacent to community open space. The site consists of two parcels of land; one fronts Gate Street and the other Hopkins Street. Planning History Planning permission was granted for the mosque and community centre to include extensions and internal alterations in 1991. A full list of the planning history is provided below: DC/06/46256”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Permission was previously granted for the mosque and community centre, extensions, internal alterations and car parking facilities.

“Provision of car parking facility. Granted conditional permission 30.10.2007 BCS4120 Laying out of a new car park Grant conditional permission 20.02.1998 BCS1552 Use of premises as mosque and community centre and internal alterations and extensions. Grant conditional permission 27.09.1991”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because parking could cause highway safety problems and the extensions would be out of character with the area.

“View of site from Hopkins Street. Recommendations 2.1 That planning permission is refused: i. Insufficient parking provision which would result in highway safety issues and inconvenience to other highway users contrary to the provisions of TRAN2 of the Black Country Core Strategy and paragraph 116 of the National Planning Policy Framework. ii.”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Planning policy and highways officers objected over the building’s scale and insufficient parking, while public health raised no significant contamination concerns.

“Planning Policy 8.1 It is considered that the location and scale of the building and limited parking would be contrary to policies in the Black Country Core Strategy and Site Allocations and Delivery Development Plan Document and so should be refused consent.”

“SAD DM6 states that extensions to new existing building should be situated on main road frontages. The proposed extensions would increase the prominence of the building facing Hopkins Street which is small residential street. Policies ENV3 and SAD EOS9 refer to rejecting design when the scale is not in character with the area.”

Officer report

What was said

The applicant said the amended scheme would improve facilities for the existing congregation, with landscaping and additional parking arrangements.

Members’ discussion

Members questioned parking and wider community use, while highways officers maintained that the proposed development would have a significant parking shortfall.

“In response to members' questions regarding parking provision, highway officers acknowledged the applicant's comments concerning the existing congregation but advised that the assessment had been based on the proposed development rather than the current use. Officers noted that the proposed prayer hall would be more than six times larger than the existing prayer space and that parking standards for places of worship had therefore been applied accordingly.”

“Members also sought clarification on the wider use of the facility. The applicant explained that, in addition to prayer services, the building would be used for a range of community purposes, including educational classes, library facilities, body storage facilities associated with bereavement services and a multi-cultural room available for use by people of different faiths.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee refused the application because it lacked sufficient parking and the design was out of character with the area.

“Members were unsatisfied with the parking provision at the site and, as such, were minded to refuse the application.”

“Resolved that consideration of Planning Application DC/25/70634 – Tipton and Tividale Islamic Centre, 24-25 Gate Street, Tipton DY4 7SP (Demolition of former chapel building and two storey expansion of existing Islamic centre.) is refused due to a lack of parking provision and a design that is out of character with the area.”

Minutes