Mosaic progressive community has application for new home in Stanmore approved

The Mosaic progressive Jewish community has had its application for new permanent home in Stanmore approved.

It comes after a meeting of Harrow Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday, and means the community will soon relocate from its current site in West Harrow.

The Council’s green light means the redevelopment of an old petrol station. It will include 20 car parking spaces and nine new residential units.

Mosaic serves the Jewish community from Harrow to Hertsmere and Bushey to Brent, bringing together Mosaic Liberal (formerly Harrow and Wembley Progressive), Mosaic Masorti (formerly Hatch End Masorti), and Mosaic Reform (formerly Middlesex New) into one pluralist community.

Local London Assembly Member Navin Shah, who supported the application, said: “As a former resident of West Harrow, I know the Mosaic group very well and have had the privilege of working closely with the Rabbi Kathleen Middleton and trustees of the organisation on a range of issues, including multi-faith work in the community.”

The plan is for a synagogue community centre on the ground floor and nine new homes above, and for Mosaic’s current home on Bessborough Road in Harrow to be turned into 40 homes.

Late last year Rabbi Kathleen Middleton of the Mosaic Reform Synagogue, said “serving three synagogues on a site that is not central for our members has been challenging for everyone involved, with accessibility being an issue”.

Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue said the new home “will enable us to offer new Jewish choices to the unaffiliated and unengaged nearby, while continuing to provide a vibrant community for our existing members”.