Plans have been submitted to convert offices in Winnersh into an Islamic community centre.
Muslim Community Connect Wokingham has applied to change the use of two-storey, 4 Winnersh Fields, off Gazelle Close, from Class E office space into Class F1 and F2 space to allow an Islamic education, worship and community centre.
No external changes are planned and the building’s 14 parking spaces will be retained in the application to Wokingham Borough Council.
Local ward councillor Cllr Prue Bray, noted in her response to the application, that permission was granted in 2023 to convert nearby Mizuno House into a gurdwara for the Sikh community.
She went on: “It is extremely difficult for faith communities to find suitable locations for their needs, including Christian denominations.
“As this location is not surrounded by residential properties and is accessible by public transport, both bus and train, it seems to me to be a reasonable place for an Islamic Centre.
“However, I do recognise that there are people in our community who have concerns, not least about parking. I would therefore ask that this application is assessed in the same way that the application for the gurdwara was assessed, with a similar condition about parking applied.
“I would also want to be sure that the traffic movements are managed at the junction with Reading Road. Finally, I note that the proposal includes the possibility of wider community use (as did the Sikh proposal). We have a shortage in Winnersh of community spaces and therefore this is to be welcomed.”
The team on the project includes M C S Design on planning and mode on transport planning.
Visit https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/detail.asp?AltRef=250543
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