PLANS to turn a former police station into a Mosque have been refused over parking concerns.

Queens House, on Queens Road in Manningham, dates back to 1892 - originally built as a police station, and lies within the St Pauls Conservation Area.

It has most recently been used as offices for Barnardos.

Last year a planning application by the Community Link Project Bradford to convert the building into a mosque were submitted to Bradford Council.

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That application has now been refused by planning officers, who raised concerns about inadequate parking for the new facility, poor vehicle access near a busy junction and the noise impact on neighbours on the residential street.

The plans would have seen the three storeys of the building’s interior changed to include a large prayer hall, classrooms, activity areas, ablution facilities and a meeting room.

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The plans said the mosque would have 12 parking spaces, with access to a rear car park through an unmade, single lane road next to the building on Queens Road, and another narrow access way off Parkfield Road.

Officers raised concerns about both these access routes, adding: “An intensified use of these access points would likely lead to an increase in vehicles reversing long distances onto the highway in order to allow another to pass.

“This raises significant concerns in terms of highway and pedestrian safety and will very likely harm the safe and free flow of traffic on the highway.”

And they said the proposed number of parking spaces was “unacceptable.”

A facility such as a mosque would require at least 30 parking spaces, officers said. They added: “The demand for on street parking in this area is already high and the shortfall in parking numbers is as such that it would lead to a high potential for indiscriminate parking in the immediate area.”

The Council had received 25 letters of support for the application, and 11 letters of objection.

Design and conservation officer Hannah Meekings said: “The property is constructed from traditional materials and has in imposing appearance.

“It is considered to make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of St Paul’s Conservation Area and is identified as a key unlisted building.”

But she pointed out that the plans would have not involved any changes to the exterior of the building.

Officers refused the application on Friday, saying: “The site would provide insufficient off-street parking spaces leading to an increase in on-street parking where demand is already high.

“These conditions would harm the safe and free flow of traffic on the highway.

“The use of the building as a mosque would likely result in a more intensified use of the site in terms of people and vehicles movements.

“The proximity of the neighbouring residential units to the west and north of the site, as well as the poor access and parking arrangements would likely result in unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance for neighbouring occupants to the detriment of their amenity.”