Mosque and community centre plans for Stafford and this week’s other applications

The proposals for land between Sandyford Road and Sandon Road, Stafford, also include a visitor car park with 40 spaces.

A single storey extension to the existing building would provide entrances and a mortuary building is also proposed. An internal mezzanine area inside the main building would offer classroom space and a ladies’ prayer room and the centre would be accessed from Sandyford Road.

The application site is currently used as commercial storage space, the planning application form submitted to Stafford Borough Council stated. The area proposed to be redeveloped does not include the former Sandonia Cinema, now a derelict snooker hall, to the south west of the site however.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said: “The former industrial building, once a bustling hub of industry and community purpose, now stands redundant. (This) is a proposal to transform the area and restore its role in serving the community.

“The plan aims to reintroduce opportunities for learning, studying, and community engagement. The mosque will play a central role, providing support for the health and well-being of the community.”

There is currently only one Muslim prayer hall in Stafford, which has space for up to 70 worshippers at any one time. The proposals for the new centre have met with more than 40 supporting comments so far.

A Weeping Cross resident described the plans as “excellent news”. They added: “The current prayer hall does great work for its congregation and the wider community – very pleased that they’ve found a suitable new location.”

A Crooked Bridge Road resident said: “The area is currently very industrial with a clear correlation with commercial litter. The change of use will improve the local area and add to the local community.”

A Brocton resident and active member of the Muslim community in Stafford said: “For many years we have sought a suitable facility that can serve as a place of worship, a cultural hub and a support centre for both Muslims and the wider community. This proposal is not just about meeting religious needs – it is about creating a welcoming space that benefits everyone in Stafford.

“For over 30 years, our community has been an integral part of Stafford, using schools, universities and rented halls for our gatherings. While we are grateful for these temporary arrangements, they lack stability and continuity (and) a dedicated facility would allow us to organise events, workshops and support initiatives more effectively.

“The Muslim community has played a vital role in Stafford’s development, with members serving as doctors, nurses, engineers, lecturers, business owners and public servants. We have not only contributed professionally but also actively engaged in charity work, interfaith dialogues and volunteering efforts that benefit all residents.

“This community centre is not just for Muslims. We envision a multifunctional space open to all, providing educational and cultural events to foster understanding and cohesion, health and well-being initiatives such as free medical checkups and mental health support, youth engagement programmes to provide a positive environment for young people (and) social support for the elderly and vulnerable, regardless of background and faith.”

There were also six objections to the application as of Monday, March 3 however. One Sandon Road resident said there would be “traffic chaos”.

Another Sandon Road resident said: “This building is less than two metres away from some residential homes and would bring noise to local residents. The outside staircase will look straight into people’s property (and) the mezzanine floor means they can see straight into people’s gardens and homes, taking away all privacy.

“The area suffers from a lot of flooding, with all the homes that back onto the property suffering from flooding, so this property must also flood. Any building work could make flooding worse for local residents.”