Residents in Queen's Park, London, are up in arms over proposals to tear down a much-loved former pub and replace it with a towering 13-storey mosque. The plans, submitted in 2023, target the two-storey Irish pub at 88–90 Carlton Vale, currently home to the UK Albanian Muslim Community and Cultural Centre. Objections to the scheme recently closed.
What the mega mosque would include
The proposed building would rise 13 floors, featuring three levels of prayer rooms, a morgue, a function room, a children's classroom, a cafe, a restaurant, and areas for charity and cultural activities.
Local opposition and concerns
But many locals argue the scale is out of step with the neighbourhood. One resident told the Daily Mail: “It’s hard to understand how there is local need for a 13-storey mega-mosque in Queen’s Park when there are already 15 others in a three-mile radius.” The same resident added that the building “doesn’t fit in at all with the local area” and is “totally out of place both in size and style”.
Others worry about increased traffic and noise, saying the community cannot cope with the capacity of such a large structure. One local expressed concern for a nearby church, stating: “The proposed size and height of the building will dominate the area, and will dwarf and overshadow the charming Baptist church right next to it.”
Political and council response
Conservative councillor Sapna Chadha said: “I fully support the right of every faith community to have appropriate places to worship. Brent is proud of its diversity, and every community deserves to practise faith freely and safely. However, this is an exceptionally large proposal of 13 floors. Queen’s Park already experiences serious traffic congestion, parking pressures and infrastructure that has failed to keep pace with development.”
A Brent Council spokesperson told The Sun: “Brent has received a planning application for the redevelopment of the existing UK Albanian Muslim Community and Cultural Centre at 88–90 Carlton Vale. The application is currently being assessed by planning officers. There is no committee date scheduled at this stage. If recommended for approval, it will be considered by the council’s Planning Committee at a public meeting. If it is rejected, there is an appeal’s process available through the Planning Inspectorate. The application will be considered against the policies within the Development Plan.”
