Barking: Victorian pub could become Muslim place of worship
- Published
The Jolly Fisherman could be converted into a into a community centre with prayer spaces
A Victorian pub in east London that has stood vacant for five years could be transformed into a place of worship to support the area's Muslim community.
Ahlul Istiqamah Trust UK, a Muslim charity, has submitted a planning application to convert The Jolly Fisherman in Barking into a community centre with prayer spaces.
The North Street pub closed in 2019 and recent pictures show it boarded up and covered in graffiti.
The pub is locally listed.
A planning statement uploaded to Barking and Dagenham Council's portal on Thursday detailed how the trust's current site, the Jabir bin Zayd Centre in Barking town centre, was no longer fit for purpose because it has almost reached maximum capacity.
According to planning documents, the former pub was highlighted as a potential site that could cater for Barking's growing Muslim population.
Counselling and health classes
The trust said it would also build a dedicated women's space and have specialist facilities for disabled people.
It plans to host a breakfast club, an interfaith group, language classes, refugee support, a homework club, counselling, health classes and skills and employment training.
Under the plans, the trust wants to refurbish the front of the pub and build a ground-floor extension.
The inside of the pub would be renovated to make way for a main prayer hall, a meeting room, a kitchen, an accessible toilet and a "multi-function" hall.
In February 2020, Advantage Rock Limited had a planning application refused by the council after its plans to turn the pub into a shop with residential flats above it were criticised for being "dominant, poorly designed and out of character in its location".
An appeal by Advantage Rock was dismissed because an inspector found harm "in relation to the loss of the public house" and said it would affect the character and appearance of the area.
The trust's plans are currently in the consultation stage.
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