Oxford mosque responds to community hall criticism

The Madina Mosque in east Oxford submitted proposals to replace its smaller building into a three-storey community hall development with two two-bedroom apartments.

Plans were submitted in March and since then there have been 34 public comments listed on the city council website with many of these being objections. 

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Critics of the application say the development would be a "cheap, plain brick box", dwarf surrounding areas, cause sunlight loss, and bring additional parking to the street.

But bosses at the Stanley Road mosque have said they intend to use the new hall, which is "only a little room", as a space for elderly people to sit in-between prayer times.

The space will serve as a "versatile sports facility, providing an avenue for empowering women from ethnic minority backgrounds by offering exercise classes such as yoga and fitness".

Proposed elevations (Image: Oxford City Council)

Chairman of the mosque Sadat Khan said: "I don't know why it's become such an issue.

"All we're trying to do is make the annexe look nicer and better.

"Once upon a time the council was asking us to do it."

Mr Khan suggested some dispute might stem from "racist" attitudes, citing previous criticism of the mosque which he deemed unwarranted.

"Every so often you'll need planning permission to repair things," he said.

Proposed floor plans (Image: Oxford City Council)

"People will make those comments anyway no matter what we do."

The new development will also include provision of a bin and bike store.

A design access and heritage statement published in June 2023 noted: "We are satisfied this proposal does not adversely affect the character of the original building, and improves what is currently a poorly maintained annexe to the rear of the mosque."

But the Oxford Civic society said: "The new build is most certainly not ’high quality design‘ in a conservation area.

"It is a cheap plain brick box. That totally ignores context.

"The new annexe will be two metres wider than the present building, three storeys high, and 11 metres from the garden to no. 4 Stanley Road.

The mosque is on Stanley Road (Image: Google Maps)

"Traffic to and from the mosque causes traffic jams several times every day and the propensity for illegal parking represents a serious safety issue."

A transport report published by the mosque on December 6 suggests the vast majority of congregation members live nearby and are likely to travel to the mosque via bike or foot.

Mr Khan said: "Since the introduction of LTNs our number of congregation members has drastically dropped.

"We used to have two Friday prayers and now we have one because there are not enough people coming in."