Plans to build a giant Islamic centre on the banks of the River Cherwell have gone to Oxford City Council.

Councillors will be taken aback by the scale of the scheme, which will include a 108ft tower and 75ft dome.

The proposed 3.25-acre site stretches from Marston Road down to the river-side Magdalen Fellows' Garden.

Despite covering green land and playing fields, the Oxford Centre For Islamic Studies is confident that work on its new £20m home will begin by the end of the year.

The centre will buy the land from Magdalen College, whose governing body has now approved the project. The scheme is to be largely funded by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who has agreed to underwrite the plan. There was a cautious welcome from the chairman of Oxford City Council planning committee, Maureen Christian. But with the Islamic tower a mere 36ft lower than Magdalen Tower, she warned that the impact on the famous Oxford skyline would be carefully examined. She said: "The Local Plan says the views of existing spires and towers must not be impeded. The loss of green space is something else that we will have to take into consideration.

"On the other hand it is an exciting and different piece of architecture. So many of the beautiful buildings in Oxford are hidden. This one would be very much recognised by the public. I hope that it will be welcomed by local people as a centre for people of Islamic Faith in the city."

Story date: Friday 21 May

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