Old police station to be new centre for Muslims

PLANS have been revealed to transform a former police station into a new multi-purpose Muslim centre in Perry Barr.

Great Barr Muslim Foundation (GBMF) bought the Walsall Road building for £820,000 at auction last September – more than half a million pounds above the registered guide price.

Planning permission for the centre must be granted as Birmingham City Council deem the proposal ‘unique’ due to its combination of uses.

The planning document reads: “It is proposed to change the use of the premises from a non-residential institution (a police station) to a community centre, children’s education facility and place of worship.”

The applicant wants to establish the first Muslim community centre in Great Barr.

A spokesman said: “GBMF exists to provide the local community with an Islamic environment conductive to education, extra-curricular activities, and prayer facilities; catering for the full range of age groups in our community, to educate and improve awareness and create harmony and cohesiveness in our community.”

In the planning statement, details outline how GBMF intends to “operate a day facility for local pensioners and retirees during daytime hours” with a “supplementary school facility” also in place outside school hours.

Councillor for Perry Barr, Morriam Jan, said: “The planning application is more ambitious than the original scheme that was publicised for a community centre. Having purchased the building and put a lot of investment into it, the applicants are obviously entitled to seek appropriate uses for it.

“The concern about this application is that it now envisages more than 200 people gathering once a week.”