Plans for 13-storey ‘mega mosque’ leaves residents fuming as beloved pub set to be demolished

RESIDENTS of a leafy suburban neighbourhood are hitting out at proposed plans to replace a former pub with a 13-storey ‘mega mosque’. Many have suggested that the towering mosque would look “out of place” in the area and “dwarf” the nearby church. Residents have expressed anger at plans to build a 13-storey mosque on the site of an unassuming former pub Credit: Al-tuhafi Architects The building would replace a former pub, which is occupied by the current UK Albanian Muslim Community and Cultural Centre Credit: Google Plans submitted to build a 13-storey ‘mega mosque’ on the site of a former pub has caused fury amongst Queen’s Park residents in north-west London. Proposals sent to Brent Council hope to expand the presence of the UK Albanian Muslim Community and Cultural Centre on Carlton Vale in the area. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The current mosque runs inside a former two-storey Irish pub, but architects now want to demolish the site, and replace it with the 13-storey tower. Architects proposing the scheme, Ayad Al-Tuhafi, submitted plans in December 2023 for the mosque, but objections closed recently. Inside, the mosque will include three floors of prayer rooms, a morgue, and a function room for meetings and parties. Developments will also include a children’s classroom, a cafe, a restaurant, and accommodation for charity and cultural activities. Plans have been hit by a number of complaints from angry locals, referencing to the size and fit of the building alongside its surroundings. One resident told the Daily Mail: “It’s hard to understand how there is local need for a 13 storey mega-mosque in Queen’s Park when there are already 15 others in a three mile radius.” Most read in The Sun They continued to say the application “doesn’t fit in at all with the local area”, and that it is “totally out of place both in size and style”. Others complained that the sheer scale of the building would cause an issue with traffic and noise to the local community, that does not have the capacity to welcome so many people. The mosque will include three floors of prayer rooms, a morgue, and a function room for meetings and parties. Credit: Al-tuhafi Architects Some have said that the size of the building will “dominate the area” Credit: Al-tuhafi Architects One local Conservative councillor, Sapna Chadha, reiterated this, saying: “I fully support the right of every faith community to have appropriate places to worship. “Brent is proud of its diversity, and every community deserves to practise faith freely and safely.” However, her doubts came from the size of the building, continuing to say: “This is an exceptionally large proposal of 13 floors. “Queen’s Park already experiences serious traffic congestion, parking pressures and infrastructure that has failed to keep pace with development.” Queen’s Park is known as a largely diverse and multicultural neighbourhood, featuring large Muslim and Christian populations. One resident was particularly concerned about the nearby Church, telling the Daily Mail: “The proposed size and height of the building will dominate the area, and will dwarf and overshadow the charming Baptist church right next to it.” A Brent Council spokesperson told The Sun: “Brent has received a planning application for the redevelopment of the existing UK Albanian Muslim Community and Cultural Centre at 88–90 Carlton Vale. “The application is currently being assessed by planning officers. There is no committee date scheduled at this stage. “If recommended for approval, it will be considered by the council’s Planning Committee at a public meeting. “If it is rejected, there is an appeal’s process available through the Planning Inspectorate. “The application will be considered against the policies within the Development Plan.”