COUNCILLORS are being urged to give the go-ahead to Burnley's "king-sized" mosque - despite the failure of attempts to scale it down to Local Plan standards.

Objectors said the 110 ft high development would dwarf surrounding homes in Burns Street, Stoneyholme, and dominate the skyline.

Agents for the Bangladeshi mosque and teaching centre offered a cut of just four per cent - leaving the minaret over 100 ft high - taller than the town's Keirby Hotel.

Although the building still does not conform with outlook standards demanded by the council, planning officers are recommending Thursday's meeting of the Development Control sub committee to give the million pounds project the green light.

Their report to councillors says that with a "landmark" building such as the mosque it was not appropriate to apply normal standards; it should be judged on according to its merits and disadvantages.

All nearby residents had been consulted and none had objected on the main grounds of loss of outlook, because many would be members of the congregation and considered it an honour to live near the new building.

The report urges councillors to take a firm view one way or the other.

"The nature of this proposal is such that it is not appropriate to 'tinker at the edges' any further."

Officers add that providing members are satisfied that the substantial community and townscape benefits of scheme outweigh the loss of outlook for immediate neighbours, planning permission should be granted subject to normal development conditions.

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