A CONTROVERSIAL application to erect a Muslim community centre in Timperley has been put on hold until proposals to remove the land from the green belt have been decided.

The application for a 2,000sqm two-storey building centre put forward by the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association (AHMA) was withdrawn on Wednesday January 11.

The proposals have attracted a lot of opposition since being unveiled last year, with more than 2,000 people signing a petition calling for Trafford Council to throw out the plans and hundreds of people turning out a demonstration at the site.

The community centre was to replace AHMA’s Islamic Cultural Centre at the former St David’s Church in Grove Lane, which has been deemed no longer fit for purpose due to the association’s growing community.

All documents pertaining to the application have been removed from the council's website.

A representative for AHMA told the Messenger that new facilities are still ‘so desperately needed’ but that the association has decided to put the plans on hold until a decision on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) proposals has been made.

The plans, involving mass house building and job creation schemes, would see green belt boundaries being re-drawn in parts of the borough.

While more than half the planned homes would be built in existing urban areas, 4,000-plus of them would be on green belt land.

Around a fifth of the current green belt land in the borough would lose that protected status under the proposed re-drawing of the boundaries.

The “Timperley Wedge” is one of the green belt areas earmarked for development – which includes the site of the proposed new AHMA Community Centre.

A spokesperson for AHMA said: “AHMA has an urgent need for a new bespoke community centre to replace our current base at Grove Lane. With up to 500 worshippers at peak times, the existing centre is no longer fit for purpose.

“Therefore, in September 2016, we announced plans for a much-needed new community centre on land off Thorley Lane and a planning application was prepared. Since then, the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) has been published for consultation.

“The GMSF makes recommendations for future community, housing and commercial growth and proposes the allocation of development sites across the whole Greater Manchester area, including Trafford.

“As residents will be aware, it is proposed to amend the green belt and a number of sites around Thorley Lane are allocated in the draft GMSF for residential, commercial and community development, including the site of the proposed new AHMA Community Centre.

“With this in mind, the AHMA has decided to place on hold the planning application for a community centre on land off Thorley Lane at this time, until the situation relating to the GMSF has been clarified.

“However, the AHMA is committed to delivering the new facilities, which are so desperately needed for the growing local Muslim community. We will monitor the situation with the GMSF closely.

"We would like to thank the community and stakeholders who see the shared vision of this project and will endeavour to keep the local community updated as and when we are ready to progress with our plan.”