A Rochdale mosque has been advised to rethink its redevelopment proposals to better reflect the heritage of the building and surrounding area.
Plans to redesign the front of the Jamia Masjid Chashtiah Mosque on Milkstone Road have been described as “discordant” and “a missed opportunity” by Rochdale Council’s own design officer, who recommended the application be withdrawn.
The mosque, housed in a former Co-operative building dating back to 1872, has applied to replace its windows, install solar panels, and add a white render finish, canopy and minaret. The council considers the site a non-designated heritage asset due to its historical links with the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers.
In a detailed planning response, the council’s design officer raised concern that the proposals fail to respond to the historical significance and urban setting of the building, which stands next to the Curtain Theatre. The report said the plans “mimic a North African mosque typology” in a way that “sits uncomfortably” in its local context.
The officer criticised the removal of original brickwork in favour of rendering, and said that traditional features such as banding and cills had been downgraded or omitted. The proposed mock mashrabiya – a decorative wooden screen – was singled out as an example of “superficial references” that risked poor craftsmanship and an inappropriate aesthetic.
The proposed minaret was also labelled unsuitable due to its scale and lack of proportion in relation to the host building.
Instead, the officer suggested the mosque should work alongside the council and local partners to revise the design as part of the wider regeneration plans for Milkstone Road. This includes façade improvements at the Curtain Theatre, which is currently being repainted in red and fitted with new lighting and signage.
The report advised: “It would be far more beneficial for any façade improvements to be developed in tandem with the planned regeneration works for the street... where a coordinated approach could produce a more coherent and contextually sensitive outcome.”
Despite the criticism, the application is still under consideration.
In its supporting documents, Garry Miller Heritage Consultancy defended the mosque’s plans, noting the building’s architectural value had been diminished by previous alterations. It stated the current proposals “preserve the historical interest” of the site while enhancing its community role.
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