|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Charlotte Phillips, 27 July 2025.
Fresh plans to change The Peacock pub in Gravesend into a mosque
recommended for approval.
Revised plans to turn a former Victorian pub into a mosque on a
“trial basis” have been recommended for approval.
Charity Al-Haqq Academy initially sought to change the use of The
Peacock, on the junction of St Andrew’s Road and Peacock Street, in
Gravesend, last year.
The venue closed its doors for good on January 1 last year and the
charity, which purchased the pub, applied for permission to
transform the ground floor into a religious academy with community
services, including a prayer hall, a food bank, a youth club, and a
mosque.
However, despite receiving 107 letters of support to 23 objections,
Gravesham council planning officers rejected the application in
October.
In their report, they said the scheme would see the loss of a public
house, and no evidence had been submitted to show it was “no longer
economically viable” as a pub.
They also raised concerns over the opening hours, stating they
lacked clarity and could not safeguard the impact on neighbours.
But on April 28 this year, Al-Haqq Academy submitted another
planning application to change the use of the building, which it
said addressed the previous reasons for refusal.
The new scheme looks to convert the ground floor into a mosque, also
known as a masjid, for around 65 worshippers and religious
instruction, also known as a madrasa, for 30 children.
The planning application is set to be discussed at a Gravesham
council planning committee meeting on Wednesday (July 30).
It has been recommended that the committee grant temporary planning
permission, subject to conditions.
The summary report states: “The proposals will have no detrimental
impact on the surrounding townscape, character of the area, parking
and highway safety.
“The scheme takes into account the history of the site and wider
context of the area.”
Although it could accommodate 65 people at one time, the charity
said in practice this would not be the case as some prayer times are
less well attended than others.
It would hold five prayers a day, including the early morning prayer
known as Fajr and the late evening prayer known as Isha, if
approved.
The submitted planning, design and access statement explained the
timings would depend on the season, with Fajr starting at 4.30am in
summer and 7am in winter and Isha at 10.50pm and 7.30pm.
The madrasa would be held between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays and 9am
and 12.30pm on weekends, if approved.
The statement also said that Islamic tradition promotes walking to
the mosque, so there would be minimal disruption in the area and
that places of worship and not usually “noisy” or impact the amenity
of residents.
The planning documents added: “It is considered that the proposed
change of use to the masjid and madrasa and their capacities would
result in an impact that is no greater than that of its previous use
as a public house.
“Places of worship have less impact on amenity than public house
uses, which present a particular set of issues to local residents
and the police and emergency services.”
In response to the council officer’s concerns on the viability and
loss of a pub, the applicant explained the site had been on the
market since 2020 until it was sold to them in 2024.
According to the submitted viability assessment, the owners of The
Peacock were “struggling” to sell it as a boozer and had no interest
from potential operators, so they were “forced to look at
alternative buyers”.
The applicant argues the use change would not cause an
under-provision of public houses as there are nine alternatives less
than a 10-minute walk away, such as the "Forrester’s Arms" and
"Waterloo Tavern."
The organisation, which is based in nearby Queen Street, also said
that there is a “significant under-provision” of Muslim prayer
facilities in the area.
The planning, design and access statement explained that, according
to the 2021 census, there are 3,326 Muslims living in the borough.
However, there are only two mosques, the Central Mosque and Shah
Jalal Mosque, which are said to both be “operating beyond capacity”,
which has caused issues with overcrowding and traffic.
In total, the application received 249 comments of support and 66
objections.
One person said it would be a “valuable addition” for the Muslim
population as well as the wider community.
Another added that it would have the “potential to foster
intercultural understanding, promote social cohesion and charitable
and educational initiatives.”
But those objecting raised fears over traffic, parking, and noise.
Others stated that the pub had been of “cultural significance” to
the community, with another adding: “The pub has a historical
placement within Gravesend which would be stripped of its identity”.
The summary report states that the “focal point of reassessment”
would be making sure the amended application overcomes the previous
reasons for refusal.
It notes that the loss of the pub as a community facility would be
“unfavourable” but states that replacing it with a place of worship
would bring benefits to the community.
‘The public house is shown to be an unviable use on this site...’
It adds: “Sufficient evidence has been provided to justify the loss
of the public house in this location.
“The public house is shown to be an unviable use on this site, as
evidenced by its disuse, previous failed marketing strategy, and the
statistical data showing the decline in the number of public
houses.”
In September, a separate application from Al-Haqq Academy was
approved to convert the first and second floors of the former boozer
into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
It will see the existing four-bedroom flat converted into a
five-bedroom home with two bathrooms and a kitchen.
The plans were approved by councillors at a planning meeting after
also receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from neighbours.
Al-Haqq Academy is a charity that offers services such as a food
bank, counselling, prayer sessions, and a youth club for everyone. |
)