A former Huddersfield village hall could soon be transformed into a mosque as plans await council approval.
Vacant since 2017, the former Fartown Village Hall, sitting at Ballroyd Road, was recently offloaded by Kirklees Council as one of the assets being sold off by auction to raise some extra cash. It was listed with a guide price between £175,000 and £200,000 but was purchased well above this, going for £322,000, according to the Pugh Auctions website.
Now, plans have been submitted to the local authority by The Peace Hall Ltd, seeking permission to repurpose the building as a mosque. The application explains that there will be no external alterations to the building.
Planning policy says that proposals involving the loss of a community facility, such as a pub, village hall, and shops, can only be allowed when it is demonstrated that there is no longer a need for it and all options, including the scope for alternative community users, have been considered.
A supporting document on behalf of the applicant explains that the hall being sold off by the council after becoming ‘surplus to requirements’ demonstrates that there is no longer a need for the facility. It also states that the proposed use will “benefit much of the local population”, with the site therefore continuing to have a community usage.
The document adds: “As explained above the building is in a densely populated area, so the building will be accessible to many of the users who will be able to walk to the facility. Bradford Road, which is well served by public transport, is less than 100m to the west of the site, so we would also conclude that the proposed development is easily accessible by public transport.”
A target date for the council to make a decision on the plans has been set for 18 August, 2025.
