Appeal after planners refused to let mosque be turned into flats

A bid to turn a Midlothian mosque above a takeaway into two residential flats has been rejected by planners.
The Jafaria Foundation had applied for a change of use for the mosque, which occupies the first floor of a building on Dalkeith's Easthouses Road, after changes to attendance patterns following the Covid pandemic.
However Midlothian Council planners rejected the proposal saying it could have an impact on the future of the established businesses, including the hot food takeaway, as residents were impacted by noise and smell.
The Foundation has now lodged an appeal against the decision arguing that it allows the building to be kept in use instead of falling into disrepair and tackles issues of housing for the area.
Planners had said that while council policy refused to allow a hot food takeaway to be built next to residential housing because of the impact on amenity, it worked the opposed way as well.
Refusing planning permission they said: 'It has not been demonstrated that the proposed development will achieve an acceptable level of residential amenity for future occupiers in terms of noise, outlook, and odour.
'It has not been demonstrated the proposed development would ensure that the function of established operations will not be adversely affected.'
Applying for permission to create the flats, agents for the Foundation said: 'Following changes to attendance pattens after the Covid pandemic the Jafaria Foundation are no longer able to continue with sustainable use of 43 Easthouses Road as a mosque and have, therefore, considered alternative viable options to ensure the buildings continued use, rather than leaving it to fall into disrepair.
'Use of the building as a commercial, community or retail operation have been considered discounted due to varying reasons'
The appeal will be considered by the local authority's Local Review Body at a meeting later this month.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
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