Mosque plan revealed for former Yorkshire RAF Association Club
A former Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Club could soon be transformed into a mosque as a planning application has been submitted to Kirklees Council.
The Batley and Birstall RAFA Club previously occupied Broughton House on Cambridge Street in Batley, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in the premises in 2024 before closing for good last year. It operated as a private members club and was owned by the RAFA – a charity that supports serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their families.
Now, an application for permission to use the property as a mosque and school has been made to the council by the Al Hashim Academy. The academy already operates from the former technical college, located just a few paces down the road, and wants to expand its classroom accommodation and relocate the existing mosque facility to the site of the former RAFA club.
According to a planning statement on behalf of the applicant, the building had “long-standing maintenance issues” and closed its doors at the end of May last year when the RAFA decided not to renew the branch lease as a result. The property had a damaged and leaky roof, and was expected to require over £200,000 worth of works in the long-term, it adds.
The property was later sold off, with no other expressions of interest to give the building a community use made, according to the applicant. There is said to have been interest in the property for residential use as flats or a House of Multiple Occupation, but this did not progress.
As this proposal is for the relocation of an existing place of worship from a neighbouring premises, the applicant’s Planning Statement says that the new use should be considered “acceptable in principle”. It continues to say that the proposed use is in line with a policy from the council’s Local Plan for community facilities.
While Broughton House is not Listed, it is located in Batley’s Market Place Conservation Area. The historic property, which predates the nearby Batley baths (1893) and technical school (1893), was originally a Christian Brethren Chapel, accommodating more than 300 seated worshippers.
It later became an Independent Methodist Chapel and operated as such until around 1971.
In 1974, the former RAFA Club moved to the premises after outgrowing its previous home on Field Lane. The site comprises a large lounge room, bars and a ballroom and bar on the first floor and previously hosted events. A 46-space public car park is located immediately to the rear.
A target date for a decision to be made by the local authority has been set for April 15.