MOVES to build a mosque with a 50 foot high tower in the heart of a Blackburn residential district look set to fail.

The Muslim Hanfi Sunni Association want to build the mosque and school in the middle of terrace housing in the Bastwell area of the town.

Bastwell is seen as the major flagship for the town hall's City Challenge regeneration programme.

But the group, which runs a mosque, in Randal Street, looks set to have its planning application turned down.

The association has applied for permission to build the mosque and religious school in Oak Street.

The building would replace a madressa, or Muslim school, which occupies a row of terrace houses.

Plans for the large two storey building include a 50 foot and 30 foot tower and a large dome.

It is believed the building would attract up to 100 worshippers and students at various times throughout the day.

Officers at Blackburn with Darwen Council are urging the planning sub-committee to veto the application, despite receiving no objections from neighbouring residents.

In a report they say it is likely there have been no objections, because many of the new houses in Bastwell are currently empty.

An earlier application for an even larger building was rejected because it was considered too imposing for a residential area.

The association came back with new architect's drawings, but planning chiefs are still urging councillors to block the application.

A report on the proposed mosque reads: "The scale of the structure is out of sympathy with the domestic development around it.

"The two towers in particular at the corners of the building are considered unsuitable."

Officers claim the building would be too close to neighbouring properties and would be intrusive.

The application will be discussed at a planning sub-committee tomorrow.

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