Early stage proposals to build a community centre within the grounds of Brick Veil Mosque at Broughton will be discussed at a public meeting this Monday, 23 February.
The consultation event will take place from 7.30pm-8.30pm at The Toll Bar Cottage Café, 476 Garstang Road, Broughton, and will provide an opportunity to view the draft proposals, meet members of project team and provide feedback about the plans.
According to outline plans shared by Broughton Parish Council, the proposed community centre would form part of the Brick Veil Mosque site at the end of D’urton Lane and would provide ‘flexible hall areas’ for meetings, events and classes to take place in.
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Providing an update about the plans on Facebook, Cllr Steve Whittam, Preston City Council (PCC) Conservative representative for Preston Rural East, said proposals were at a very early stage.
He said: “Monday’s event is essentially to float the idea to whoever attends and share the ‘plans’ (possibly gauge public opinion) ahead of any planning application submitted to PCC.
“A building of this type would require planning approval as it is a clear variation of the original approved (sec of state on appeal) plans for the site.”
The development marks the latest stage in what has been a long running planning saga surrounding Brick Veil Mosque.
The 12-metre-tall structure – complete with 30-metre minaret and space for 248 prayer mats and associated worshippers – became the subject of a public inquiry after initially being given the green light by PCC’s planning committee in 2022.
That decision was ‘called in’ for reconsideration by the government before the scheme was finally approved in January 2023 by the then Communities Secretary, Michael Gove.
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