New £5 million Blackburn mosque moves closer to completion
Image by Lancashire Telegraph
Blackburn will soon see one of its biggest and most ambitious projects enter its completion.
Termed as the city’s ‘biggest mosque building projects’, it has been reported that in the last few months, the construction work on Preston New Road at the site of the former Westholme Nursery school has been progressing at a rapid pace.
Issa Foundation, a family charity run by billionaire businessmen and brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, is behind the plans for the mosque and community centre that will welcome all practicing Muslims in the community.
Mr Riley, the Darwen Council’s lead on regeneration, had said in an interview with the BBC in 2021 when the plans had been approved that it was “going to be no ordinary mosque”.
“It’s going to be an absolutely landmark building at a very important gateway,” he said.
“With its Islamic architecture, it obviously reflects the changing face of modern Blackburn… and this will show Blackburn in the new light of a place where there is diversity, but also where communities mix.
“It’s going to be an impressive community facility and can… only enhance the spirit of the town itself.”
The brickwork for the community space has been completed ahead of the work on the mosque and after a brief halt, the construction of the 29 metres tall minarets as well as the frame of the traditional dome are said to be complete.
Image by Lancashire Telegraph
The £5 million scheme was approved in mid-2021 after a few issues were raised by officials and the community.
The mosque will serve worshippers living in the areas of Revidge, Corporation Park and Beardwood and is the seventh mosque within walking distance.
Reports state that it will also be the second most expensive mosque to have been built in the north west region with the first one being the Raza Jamia Masjid in Accrington which was a project that cost £8.6 million and was opened to the public in 2017.
