Plans to partially demolish buildings at 222-226 South Street to build a new mosque have been submitted to Havering Council. The proposal, put forward by the Havering Islamic & Cultural Centre (HICC), aims to create a modern place of worship and cultural hub for the local community.
The existing mosque located at Bridge Close is set to be demolished following a compulsory purchase order issued by the council. Since then, HICC has been searching for a new site and has now chosen South Street, a location with a history dating back to the 1930s when it was originally a builder’s merchant site.
The new state-of-the-art mosque will be spread over three floors, with the following layout:
Lower Ground: Main prayer hall, community spaces, soup kitchen, food bank, and ghusl (ritual purification) facilities.
Ground Floor: Men’s prayer hall and education rooms.
First Floor: Women’s prayer hall, library, and education rooms.
The design focuses on providing “separate but connected” prayer spaces for men and women, ensuring inclusivity while respecting faith traditions.
Architects John McAslan + Partners commented, “The mosque seeks to act as a civic asset, promoting interfaith understanding and providing a venue for charitable, educational, and social initiatives. By offering a space for spiritual and communal activities, the mosque will positively contribute to the neighbourhood, fostering inclusivity, and enhancing the social fabric of Romford.”
Havering Council is expected to make a decision on the plans by March 2023.
Originally published by UKNIP.
