The Planning Committee at Manchester City Council has voted in favour to grant planning consent for Mimar Architects scheme at Barlow Road, Levenshulme Mosque (April 2016)

The Community centre will provide approximately 1,750sqm of Landscaping , Café, Library, Office, classrooms and prayer facilities.

The site was a former School and has been used as an educational and prayer facility since 1986. The building is not listed and over time, it has become apparent that the current facility and its layout doesn’t serve the requirements of the religious community as well as it could. the vision is now to enhance the area with a contemporary design and more welcoming with a fit for purpose centre.

The mosque will be oriented towards Mecca and feature a Mihrab which is going to be situated to the rear of the site and will see a one way system for the car park which will ease congestion and traffic flow in and out of the site. Storage space for cycles has also been proposed at the front of the site.

Mimar Architects has consulted with highways, engineers and the local authorities over the year to come up with its final proposal which has now been approved.

The local community at large in Levenshulme have been very positive about the proposals and had only raised concerns about parking. An intensive survey and investigation was done and provisions were put forward for this along with highways statement.

The proposals have been designed to enhance the character and appearance of the area and it is unlikely there would be any detrimental impact on the free flow of traffic or highway safety, subject to safeguarding conditions.

The centre combines the amenities and employment creation of the cafe and employment uses within the proposal, with a high quality environment, socially, physically and economically sustainable.

Mimar Architects Team: Mohammed Afaq, Liam Donnelly, Mark Young,  Yasir Naeem, Sara Reviejo