It takes a village: two shuls and a church support new home for Muslim community centre

Two synagogues and a local church are backing plans for a new Muslim community centre in north-west London.

United Reformed Church, Northwood United synagogue and the Ark synagogue are championing planning applications for a former derelict and abandoned police station in Northwood to be redeveloped for the Iron Aid Foundation. The community organisation has been operating in the area for the past 11 years.

Currently working nearby at St John’s Reformed Church, the station offers them a permanent place to call home.

In a joint letter to Hillingdon’s principal planning officers, the group wrote as “collective representatives of the faith communities in Northwood”.

Alan Moss (Northwood United), Susan Boobis (The Ark synagogue) and James Fields (St. John’s United Reformed Church), went on to say that “not only will the former police station be brought back to life, turning the once neglected, dilapidated and derelict eyesore into a community asset once again, it will serve as a hub for all the existing services and events…..and can continue the vital work they do for Northwood, not least with a flourishing Scout group for young people of any faith. It seems appropriate also that a building long associated with the best principles of public service should evolve and be honoured in such a manner.”

David Simmonds, Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner says he is “incredibly pleased” that the “historically significant building” will be “fully restored to its former glory” and once completed will “not only provide a centre for their own activities, but a venue for different groups across the community.”

The project is still in its early stages and the foundation hope to progress to pre-planning within the next few weeks.