A new sports and community centre in one of the most deprived parts of Preston will be a “beacon of light” for the area, the group behind the project has promised.
The Quwwatul Islam Preston Muslim Society has been granted permission to develop the two-storey facility on a disused site off Deepdale Mill Street.
During a meeting of Preston City Council’s planning committee, the organisation stressed that the centre would be open to all sections of the community – and would seek to counter “far right” influences.
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Designed to serve the St. Matthew’s, Deepdale, Ribbelton and Fishwick areas, the development will deliver a 3G football pitch for up to 12 players and a multi-purpose sports court.
Two community halls will also be created, split into female and male spaces – although a folding wall partition will enable them to be turned into a single, larger area.
The development – opposite the separate mosque and education centre buildings the society already operates – will also include showers, changing rooms, a kitchen and food serving counters. There will also be a ‘Janazah room’, a space used for prayer after a member of the Muslim community passes away, at the rear of the building.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, an individual identified only as Mr. Ibrahim said the scheme could be summed up as being “by the community, for the community – cultivating harmony, belonging and wellbeing”.
Highlighting the “health inequalities” facing “low income families” in the area, he told the committee: “This…project will be a beacon of light for the entire community. .
“It’s going to be serving [residents] at a time when we know that the far right are trying to infiltrate…our communities. We are hoping that this project is going to be a beacon of community cohesion.”
The government’s ‘indices of deprivation’ show parts of the catchment area for the new facility are in the top 10 percent of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
Alban Cassidy, the agent for the application, said poor life expectancy, mental health problems and obesity were bound up with issues of “ isolation” and lack of opportunity to exercise in “a place that is appropriate…private, allows people to maintain their dignity and…actually start their recovery”.
Committee member Cllr Peter Kelly said the area was “in dire need of sports facilities”.
Mr. Cassidy described the project as a “very innovative solution” that would ensure an unusual triangular-shaped plot – most recently serving as a security office and storage area for HGVs – was put to good use.
A 17-space car park will be provided, with users of the community and sports centre also having access to the 42 spaces at the education centre site if an overflow is required. Council planning officer Patrick Marfleet said a large number of properties were “within walking distance” of the location.
The Janazah services will transfer from the nearby Little Sparkles Nursery – also owned by the society – ending an existing arrangement that Mr. Ibrahim described as “far from ideal”.
Nine letters of support were received backing the overall blueprint – and the committee approved it unanimously.
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