Plans to convert Grade II-listed pub into a mosque set to be blocked as council is warned it would cause 'substantial harm to a heritage asset'

Plans to transform a Grade II-listed pub into a mosque are set to be blocked after the council warned it would cause 'substantial harm' to a 'heritage asset'.The Norwich Muslim Centre previously submitted plans to renovate the Gatehouse, which dates back to 1934 and is a protected 'asset of community value'. In these plans, the group had applied to change the use of the property's extension from a community centre into a place of worship, sparking hundreds of complaints. Proposals for the property's extension at the rear of the boozer show it would be large and copper coloured with screens and Arabic lettering.It comes after the pub, a mixture of Arts and Crafts and Tudor styles, closed three years ago following the death of its landlord.Last month, leaflets were shared in the community opposing the plan and asked: 'Should this pub be converted into a mosque?'Sirajul Islam, a trustee of the Norwich Muslim Centre, responded to the claims saying he knocked on doors around the community to discuss and understand their views.'So far, I have come across only three people who told me that they used to visit the pub on a regular basis when it was open and operating as a pub,' he said. Plans have been submitted to turn the Grade II-listed Gatehouse in Norwich into a mosque. CGI of the proposed building is seen here Proposals show a large copper-coloured extension decorated with screens and Arabic lettering which would be built onto the rear of the pub The Gatehouse (pictured), a mixture of Arts and Crafts and Tudor styles, closed three years ago following the death of its landlord 'This did make me wonder where all those objections and concerns are coming from. 'We really do appreciate the concerns being raised, and we are fully committed to working with the wider community.'Now, Norwich City Council's Conservation and Design team have submitted a report criticising the proposals presented by the local Muslim association.It also urged the council to refuse the application, stating it sees no 'convincing evidence or justification' for the building's use to be changed. A public house has been on the site since at least 1866, with the original destroyed by a fire at some point in the early 20th century. The current building, which has been empty since the death of its former landlord in 2023, was built in 1934 and survived two attacks during the Second World War. The report also describes the 'inter-war improved' public house as a 'superb example' of medieval Kent and East Anglian architecture. It added that the most 'significant intervention' of the plans would be the construction of a rear extension which would accommodate prayer halls for both men and women. It said the 'scale and massing', along with its 'width' and 'length' combined with its height would mean it would be 'far greater in size' than the current building.'So [it] would be entirely disproportionate and not in any way subservient to the existing building,' the report stated. The Grade II-listed Gatehouse in Norwich, Norfolk, was built in the 1930s. An historic photo of the building is seen here A sign to the pub is seen here. Before it closed, regulars could drink in the Gatehouse's oak-panelled bars beside a log fireJoin the discussionShould historic pubs be preserved for their heritage or transformed to serve new community needs?What's your view?While noting the proposals would cause 'substantial harm' to the site, it added the design was 'a highly modern addition'.'The proposals do not enhance the existing building and create a great impact upon the significance of the Grade II listed Gatehouse and its setting.'The construction of the new prayer hall block offers a degree of harm to the significance of the heritage asset and its setting,' it read. 'This is judged to be substantial harm.'The Norwich Muslim Centre has filed two connected planning applications to the local authority.So far, one application received 347 objections and 201 supporting letters, while the other received 194 objections and 213 supporting.In its conclusion, the report said it would be difficult to argue the site could not be used as a pub, as it was closed 'only three years ago' due to the landlord's 'ill health'.It also maintained the property could be reused in its 'current form, or with modest and sympathetic refurbishment'. The report also described the construction of the extension as 'inappropriate for the heritage asset in question through its design, scale and massing'.It added that while there was 'some degree of public benefit' for the building to be used again, there was a question if the prayer block was 'entirely necessary' to do so.It also questioned 'whether the building in its existing form, or a sympathetically altered form could not retain either its use as a public house or another appropriate use'.The application awaits a decision from Norwich City Council.