Revised Plans Submitted to Convert Former Gravesend Pub into Mosque
Al-Haqq Academy, a local charity based on Queen Street, has submitted a revised planning application to Gravesham Borough Council seeking to convert the ground floor of The Peacock pub, located at the corner of St Andrew’s Road and Peacock Street, into a mosque and madrasa, Kent Online reported on Tuesday.
The initial application, submitted last year, was rejected in October 2023. At the time, council planning officers cited the lack of evidence that the pub was no longer financially viable, and raised concerns about the clarity of proposed operating hours and their potential impact on nearby residents.
The new proposal addresses these points. According to the planning documents, the pub had been listed for sale since 2020 with no serious interest from potential buyers before being sold in 2024. The application also emphasizes that there are nine other pubs within a ten-minute walk, including The Forrester’s Arms and Waterloo Tavern.
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The updated scheme would allow for five daily prayer sessions and religious instruction for up to 30 children. The academy noted that in practice, full capacity attendance is rare and added that Islamic tradition encourages walking to prayer, which they believe would help limit local disruption. The statement also argued: "Places of worship have less impact on amenity than public house uses, which present a particular set of issues to local residents and the police and emergency services."
The application highlights a “significant under-provision” of Muslim prayer facilities in Gravesham, citing the 2021 census that recorded 3,326 Muslims in the borough but only two mosques, both reportedly operating at full capacity.
A decision on the application is expected by June 23.
Source: Agencies
