Dewsbury mosque given the green light to expand.

The Mohaddis E Azam Education Centre and Masjid E Madani, on Ravenshouse Road, will be partly demolished to incorporate first-floor and two-storey rear extensions.

The plan was unanimously approved at a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee.

The committee heard that previous concerns over design and parking provision had been addressed.

The design will incorporate a two-storey 31ft-high building with parapet roof and minarets to each corner along with a green fibreglass dome located centrally and to the front within the roof.

A report to the committee said: “The design of the proposals is, to a certain degree, informed by the religious function of the building.”

The stone-faced extension will provide additional accommodation for storage at the first-floor level in addition to an office, computer room and conference room.

The plan was approved despite some objections that focused on loss of light, loss of privacy, increased noise and parking issues on surrounding streets.

Five letters and a 24-signature petition were received in support of the plans.

The council’s environmental services department advised that noise levels from the call to prayer need to be controlled so that local residents are not disturbed by it.

Highways staff said most worshippers travelled to the mosque on foot as it served the immediate locality but that a planned car park next to the building would accommodate vehicles that might normally be parked on the street.