A Barking Victorian pub that’s remained vacant for five years might be changed into a place of worship. This religious centre would add more support to the region’s growing Muslim population. As a top provider of support with property investment in Barking and Dagenham, we want to have a look at the project.
Planning application
A Muslim charity established in 2014, Ahlul Istiqamah Trust UK, has submitted a planning application. They are asking Barking and Dagenham Council to change The Jolly Fisherman to a community centre. There will also be educational and prayer spaces.
This pub closed back in 2019 and is currently boarded up, covered in a little graffiti. However, it has a local listing because of the special historical or architectural interest. You can find it near the Harts East Lane. That could cause issues, but according to the planning documents, it is a possible redevelopment site that could cater for the area’s expanding population.
A planning statement was put onto the council’s planning portal recently. It details the Trust’s existing site and how it isn’t suitable for purpose anymore. The Jabir bin Zayd Centre in Barking’s town centre is nearly at total capacity. The trust would therefore like to move to a new home. Developing the pub would provide this. It would include a women’s area as well as specialist spaces for people with disabilities. If you need the best services for property investment Barking and Dagenham has, let us know.
The trust’s plans
The trust plans to host frequent meet ups for women/mums and the elderly, and a breakfast club. In addition, they want to do things like skills and employment training, health classes, and counselling. There are also plans for a homework club, refugee support, language classes, and an interfaith group. Those activities would join the centre’s current uses. These are weekend Quran teachings, Hajj and Umrah training, and lectures. There are also weekly Arabic classes for youngsters, a library, and the centre’s job as a place of worship.
Under the development plans, the trust intends to refurbish the pub’s front facade. They want to restore the red and brown glazed brickwork. Moreover, they intend to build a ground floor single storey extension. There would be a red brick cover to keep the Victorian building’s character.
The pub’s interior would undergo refurbishment to include a multi-function hall. There would be an accessible toilet, a kitchen, meeting room, and main prayer hall. Documents describe the site as having outstanding accessibility. There are also sustainable transport connections. Barking train station is merely a half mile away.
Previous plans
During February 2020, the council had a planning application from Advantage Rock Limited. Their plan was for transforming the pub into a shop with residential flats on top. However, the council called it ‘dominant’ and out of character for the location, criticising the design. As a result, permission was not given.
The company chose to appeal, but that was not successful either. An inspector said the redevelopment would cause harm ‘in relation to the loss of the public house’. They said it would impact the area’s appearance and character too.
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