Bolton Shia community centre plans submitted retrospectively

The Chorley Old Road Methodist Hall and Sunday School, dating back to 1892, forms part of a retrospective planning application submitted on April 9, 2026.

The building, rub by charity organisation Qasr-e-Sajjad AS, has been operating as a community centre and madrassah since November 4, 2024.

The Grade II listed former Methodist hall in Bolton (Image: Bolton Council)

The application was submitted by Shabaz Hussain on behalf of Qasr-e-Sajjad AS, with the scheme prepared by RA Design & Project Management Ltd.

The centre is intended to serve the Shia Muslim community, described as a “relatively small and underrepresented group in Bolton.”

Chorley Old Road Methodist Hall, which could be formally approved as a Shia community centre and prayer room. (Image: Bolton Council)

The charity aims to advance the Islamic faith, promote mutual understanding between different faiths, and provide a base for worship, religious education, and cultural activities for the Shi’ite community in Bolton and Manchester.

The planning documents state the site would not be used for congregational Friday prayers but will function as a community facility with an ancillary prayer room.

Madrassah classes for up to 50 children are expected to run between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays.

The building is intended to serve Bolton’s Shia Muslim community as a centre for worship and education. (Image: Bolton Council)

The proposed opening hours are listed as 9am to 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

The plans indicate only minor internal changes, including the removal of a small internal wall in the ladies’ area to create a larger hall.

No significant external changes are planned, although the proposal seeks to retain a flagpole at the front of the site.

A heritage statement concluded the reuse would not harm the character or significance of the listed building, arguing the new use aligns with its historic role as a religious and community space.

Bolton Council will now review the application.