Bradford planners have knocked back plans to strip the last few pews from an historic Methodist chapel which is now a thriving mosque.

The Shah Jalal Jame Mosque is well-established in the large victorian chapel on Temple Row, Keighley and structural changes have already turned it into a two-storey space.

Also the bulk of downstairs pews once filled by a Christian congregation have already been removed to provide an open Islamic prayer area.

But planners have baulked at the latest proposal to rip out the remaining tiered seating from two front corners on the grounds it would totally erase the building’s old identity.

Planning officer Alison French said the 1846 chapel was a well-known local landmark with lots of character: She said: “This large former Methodist chapel displays elegant classical detail of the period and retains original external windows and authentic appearance.

“Together with the neighbouring former Sunday School building, the mosque has a strong presence in the town centre and is a distinguished building in the conservation area.”

And she said taking away the last tiers of pews should not be allowed. She said: “The proposal would result in the entire removal of the remaining seating, and the majority of the tiered terracing which supports this.

“This would result in the loss of the last elements of the original interior, with a resultant negative effect on the significance and understanding of the building.”

Citing policy contained within the council’s Replacement Unitary Development Plan, she said: “Despite the suggestion of a new home being found for the removed seating, this is in reality unlikely and in a new location would be without any historic context and meaningless.”

Bradford-based Chris Eyres Designs acted on behalf of the Shah Jalal Jame Mosque and said it planned to negotiate further with planners.

Mr Eyres said: “We have yet to speak to our clients, but we will be going back to the planning department to try and reach a satisfactory compromise.”