An Imam says he is determined to rebuild his mosque, despite the last two planning applications being rejected.

The Qur’ani Murkuz Trust’s (QMT) long-running bid to rebuild its Muslim community centre in Mulberry Way, South Woodford has been very controversial among residents.

The trust’s last planning application received 300 objections and was turned down in July 2015 over fears the new building would be “over-dominant and intrusive”

But Imam Dr Mohammed Fahim says he is determined QMT’s new design will prove far more popular with planners, councillors and neighbours.

He said: “We have taken all the views of the planning officers and local residents into account, and we are really hopeful, god willing, that this new scheme will be accepted.

“We have reduced the bulk of the building and decided to build downwards instead of upwards so everyone is much happier.

“All we want to do is replace our ugly existing building with something really modern and beautiful.”

The most recent application to demolish the community centre and replace it with a two-storey and part three-storey building with a basement was submitted to Redbridge’s planning department on April 12.

It also asks permission to build one single-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats.

Dr Fahim said: “The new building will provide space for a proper classroom for our children to learn in.

“At the moment they are sitting on top each other and the classrooms are only divided by a curtain.

“There is no doubt the new facility would improve the quality of teaching here at the trust.”

He added that the new plan does not include any plans to increase the mosque’s capacity, which will remain at 250.

But objections to the recent application have expressed concerns about the new centre’s design, burden on residential parking and potential noise disturbance.

John Clarke, of Primrose Road, said: “The proposed redevelopment is out of character with the local surroundings.

“And it appears very few actual ‘local’ residents of the immediate area want this to take place.”

John Gregory, of Wavertree Road, said: “There is a chronic lack of parking in the area and by brining yet more people from outside the area to attend this facility it would place a severe burden on existing resident parking spaces.”

Dr Fahim also said the new community hall would be available for hire and the three two-bedroom flats could be rented by anyone of any or no religion.

He said he was expecting a decision on the new application after May’s elections.

Redbridge Council has been contacted for comment.

To comment on the application, see the website.

http://planning.redbridge.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=1144/16