May 27 2025

A Glasgow mosque has presented revised plans for an entrance and ablutions extension on Dixon Avenue, Crosshill, after a previous planning attempt failed to garner council support.

Al-Farooq Education and Community Centre (AFECC) had proposed to augment the B-listed former Hutchesontown Free Church with a single storey extension - contrary to a planning principle of not extending to the front of a listed building.

Subsequent discussions have arrived at a compromise solution where the extension will be scaled back, with a projecting canopy kept to its minimum extent and the use of a more svelte timber structure. Other changes include reducing the 'visual weight' of the eaves and reinstating the original secondary entrance doors.

Project architect Lee Boyd stress that an extension is necessary to improve accessibility and move wash facilities outside the main building on religious grounds. It is further argued that the corner positioning naturally weakens the prominence of the principle facade.

The architects wrote: "The building is a rare typology, certainly with respect to other local churches of a similar age, where its processional entrance is to the side of the nave, rather than centred on its axis.

"At AFECC this departure from symmetry with a focus on the corner of the building is reinforced by the positioning of the tower. The tower and the processional entrance porch are linked so that after entry, users move through the floor of the tower before turning at 90 degrees to enter the nave. The impact of this is that whilst the architectural modellling of the building is impressive and varied, both street facing elevations have important roles in its composition."

The design intent remains as before, to erect a contemporary addition to a traditional building with a geometric flat roof to avoid competition.  

10 Comments

#1 Posted by Bemused_Citizen on 27 May 2025 at 16:15 PM

This is a stupendously clumsy design and a massive missed opportunity. What a shame that is has passed by the Planners.

#2 Posted by Bemused_Citizen on 27 May 2025 at 16:31 PM

Correction - this hasn't passed the Planners. UR, your headline is a bit misleading.

#3 Posted by UR on 27 May 2025 at 17:06 PM

@2 I've clarified the heading

#4 Posted by Bill Breckenridge on 27 May 2025 at 18:08 PM

I live next door to the Mosque and objected to the original planning application. I knew nothing of the amended application and feel severely let down by the council planning department. I don't understand how this can be permitted?!

#5 Posted by Bill Breckenridge on 27 May 2025 at 20:10 PM

Thanks for clarifying. I should have checked the planning portal first but see now that it is due for consideration by planning 27th June.
Panic over, but still concerning that this is even back fir consideration!

#6 Posted by Sir Ano on 28 May 2025 at 09:26 AM

It is a very strange proposal, gives 2nd year student vibes.

The visual is the most concerning thing for me. It doesn't represent in any way how that extension would look in reality.

#7 Posted by Maboza Aitken on 28 May 2025 at 09:43 AM

This clumsy and unnecessary addition should be rejected.

#8 Posted by Mikey on 28 May 2025 at 11:59 AM

I see UR have decline to post my earlier comment so I will adjust it. This is a hideous extension to a Christian building that does nothing to respect the traditional ecclesiastical features and layout. I fear for future generations being able to read its original use through these destructive additions and alterations to accommodate the requirements of another religion, and I feel sadness for the previous generations of church congregations that their building will be altered in this way.

#9 Posted by Chris on 28 May 2025 at 12:24 PM

#9 I've seen many modern extensions proposed for churches on here over the years, often of varying quality. Your concern was notably absent from the comments then.

#10 Posted by Bemused_Citizen on 28 May 2025 at 12:42 PM

@Mikey

Ooft. I wonder, do you also object to Christian's adapting churches to accommodate other uses? Or just when Muslim's need to do it?

The design is crap but it has nothing to do with the fact that the design is to support the requirements of Islamic rituals. It's just a crap design.

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