A council is set to decide whether plans to convert a church into a mosque can go ahead.
Watford councillors will convene next Tuesday to determine the fate of a proposal that would see a disused church transformed into a Muslim place of worship.
The development management committee is scheduled to meet on February 3 to consider plans for the former St Thomas’ United Reformed Church on Langley Road, which the Ar-Rahmah Trust acquired for £3.5million.
The organisation intends to establish a mosque named Masjid Al-Ummah at the site.
The proposal encompasses more than just religious services, with plans incorporating a community facility and nursery alongside the mosque itself.
The trust aims to have the building finished by this summer.
The building on Langley Road has stood vacant following the closure of the United Reformed congregation in 2015.
In an unusual development, planning officers have yet to publish their formal recommendation ahead of next week’s decision.
St Thomas’ United Reformed Church on Langley Road has not been used since 2015
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The published meeting agenda indicates that their report will be made available at a later stage.
The application attracted significant public interest during consultation, with 84 residents submitting comments in support whilst 37 raised concerns.
Those opposing the scheme cited a range of issues including parking difficulties, potential noise disturbance, and objections to converting a Christian worship site into a Muslim one.
The mosque team has previously provided what the Watford Observer described as a “comprehensive” response to these concerns.
Regarding transport worries, applicants pointed to an assessment showing that visitor numbers would remain comfortably within local road capacity, as activities would be deliberately scheduled at different times to avoid concentrated arrivals.
On religious grounds, the team noted that such considerations are “legally irrelevant to planning” decisions.
Artist impression of the mosque which Ar-Rahmah Trust acquired for £3.5million
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AR-RAHMAH TRUST
The decision to determine the fate of the site comes just after the same The borough council refused planning permission to turn a Grade II listed church into a mosque on Leavesden Road.
The borough council rejected the application that would have seen the vacant Leavesden Road Baptist Church converted into a Muslim place of worship.
Plans were submitted for the building – which has not been in use as a church since 2021 – back in November.
Issuing their verdict, the council report said: “The proposals would cause substantial harm to the significance of the listed building, as they would destroy, remove, subdivide, or obscure almost the entirety of its carefully designed and well-preserved interior.
“In addition, proposed exterior alterations are excessive and inappropriate.
“The substantial harm has not been demonstrated as being necessary to achieve substantial public benefits.”
Shabaz Khaliq, who applied for the permission, told the Watford Observer he wanted to revitalise the site.
The CageFit Gyms operator said: “We recognise that many church buildings across the country have fallen out of use.
“Rather than allow this one to stand empty, our goal is to reinvigorate it as a space for service, care, and community connection.
“The centre will remain open to people of all faiths and backgrounds.”
