Councillors approve upgrades to Portsmouth Muslim Academy

Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee unanimously approved plans for the chapel, located near the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum.

The Grade II-listed building was constructed in 1884 as a Baptist chapel until its congregation moved out and it passed into secular use.

Past uses include an art studio by a local college and a mosque since 2006, when it was bought by a Muslim group.

The approved works include raising the ground floor by nearly 2ft to make more room in the basement, as well as a new staircase and solar panels. Additionally, opening hours will be increased to 24 hours during the months of Ramadan, usually between February and March.

Other proposals, such as gating Mill Lane and using uPVC windows, were removed after talks with planning officers.

According to its website, the Portsmouth Muslim Academy provides a place for “prayer and worship” alongside maktab, traditional Islamic schools that provide a supplementary religious education for pupils aged 5–16, and Hifz classes, which help students memorise the Qur’an.

The plans include a planning application and listed building consent submitted by Carl Architect Limited on behalf of Ali Liakoth.

Robert Ralph, a mechanical engineer speaking in support of the application, said the building is in “dire need of renovation”.

He added that many properties in the Mile End conservation area have been subject to refurbishment works and that there is a “responsibility” to maintain the chapel.

Another supporting deputee, Naseem Ahmed, said the building has not been “touched in a long time” and has no insulation or double glazing – making it very cold in the winter.

Insulation, a new heater, electrical wiring and internal refurbishments will be introduced, all “for the benefit of the building”, which will hopefully see it last “another 150 years”.

Councillor Hugh Mason described the proposal as “sensitive” and said it will “maintain the character of the area”.

All councillors voted in favour of the planning application and the listed building consent.