Mosque plan for former rugby clubhouse approved

The pavilion is currently is currently unused, councillors were told

Plans to turn a disused former rugby clubhouse in Leicester into a mosque have been given the green light.

Members of Leicester City Council's planning committee approved a proposal to convert the pavilion in Knighton Lane East, in Aylestone, into a place of worship at a meeting on Wednesday.

The building was formerly used by Old Aylestonians Rugby Football Club but has been empty for about eight years.

Some residents in the area told councillors they had concerns about traffic safety should the building be brought back into use.

However, highways officials at the city council said the site had sufficient parking and that the proposal was acceptable.

Applicant Dr Louay Al-Alousi, who will be the imam at the new mosque, said officials would look to manage traffic and that many worshipers would walk or cycle to prayers rather than drive.

He said the mosque, which will also have educational facilities, would likely have a maximum of 100 people on site at any time.

He said he hoped it would be ready to open by February 2026.

The council received 163 representations in support of the plan and 38 objections.

Among the objections were concerns about potential noise.

A report prepared for the committee said there was "no intention" for an externally amplified call to prayer, and planning officers proposed a condition that no formally scheduled events could take place outside the building.

Council officers had also proposed a condition that the site could only be used between 07:00 and 23:00, with opening hours extended to 00:30 during Ramadan.