An Islamic educational group has been given the permission it needs to buy up a neighbouring piece of land to enable it to expand.

The Council-owned derelict land at Thornbury Road, Bradford Moor, has long been wanted by the Islamic Cultural Educational Association since it built the Madni Jamia mosque in 2006.

Supporters petitioned Bradford Council calling for all the land to be sold to them, but others such as Avicenna Medical Practice and now Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College are interested in the plot.

Today, the Council’s executive took the decision to sell the land to the ICEA but that a restricted covenant would be placed on the site forbidding any residential development.

This could see the end of the group’s desire to build a home for the mosque’s Imam on the land.

In addition they must now provide plans and a business plan within three months to the Council’s satisfaction, and pay market value for the land.

At the meeting a number of local councillors spoke out in favour of the ICEA and their plans to build a education and resource centre to provide more services to the community, as well as a sports hall and community function hall.

In addition Shazia Rafiq, a management committee member at the association, told the meeting that theirs was a unique project and that they hoped it would become a beacon.

Councillor Mohammed Shafiq (Lab, Bradford Moor), said he was delighted with the outcome, but was concerned about the covenant.

Council leader, Councillor Kris Hopkins, added that he wished the project luck and called upon the new owners to clean up the land which has become and eyesore.

A report to the meeting indicated that the ICEA has the funds in place to buy up the land but would then need to raise the build funds from community contributions.

They would hope to have the site fully developed and up and running within five years.