Plans to turn an historic former church into a mosque have been approved. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has granted the change of use of the grade II* listed St John's Church, in Hanley, back into a place of worship and community facility.

But earlier plans for internal changes to the church, which would require listed building consent, have been dropped. And a restrictive covenant, which dates back to when the Town Road building was sold by the Church of England, may still prevent the new use.

The decision to approve the change of use, which was taken by planning officers under delegated powers, has been welcomed by the applicants as a 'significant milestone' for the community.

Zabi Zamir, spokesperson for the Zamir Foundation, said: "The decision by the city council reflects the shared vision of creating a space that not only preserves the historical value of the church but also serves the diverse needs of our local residents. This development marks a positive step towards enhancing community services and fostering inclusivity in Hanley."

A number of community services will be based at St John's, including a museum, library and women-only gym (LDRS).

Mr Zamir said a number of community services would be based at St John's Church, including a museum, a multi-faith library and a women-only gym.

The building, which dates back to 1788, has not been used as a church since the 1980s. It was last used as an antiques centre and cafe, which closed in 2020.

Dozens of people have had their say on the change-of-use application, with 34 writing in support of the plans and 28 objecting. According to the planning officer's report, some of the comments 'were not considered appropriate for the public arena' due to their 'inflammatory and indeed discriminatory nature'.

Objectors raised concerns over issues such as parking and congestion, with some claiming that gravestones and graves had been dug up during works carried out last summer. Most of the graves at the church were exhumed in the 1980s to make way for the construction of the Potteries Shopping Centre, although headstones were left lying flat on the ground.

Council officers visited the site in July 2023 and did not find any evidence of graves being disturbed. But the owner was told to cease all works at the site until planning consents were in place.

The building, which dates back to 1788, has not been used as a church since the 1980s (Nub News).

Planning officers initially raised concerns over the plans apparently showing internal changes to the building, despite claims that none were being proposed. During the application process internal partition walls and wash facilities were installed without consent, but were subsequently removed.

Revised plans were subsequently submitted which made it clear that only a change-of-use was being proposed, with no physical changes to the building, which was considered acceptable.

The officer's report states: "The application proposes a place of worship and community use in a building that was originally constructed for worship and the community. The site is very sustainably located in the centre of the city, close to good public transport links and a directly adjacent to a multi-storey car park.

"Save for the short period of use of the building as an antiques centre, the former church has been derelict for many decades, and providing a new use would clearly be beneficial, hopefully safeguarding the future of the listed building, but also bringing some vitality to this corner of Hanley."

According to the planning application there are 10 parking spaces on the site, and highways officers have said access will need to be controlled to avoid misuse by the general public.

The Church of England has told the council that it retains a legal interest in the building through a restrictive covenant. According to the officer's report, this would 'not currently allow use of the building for the proposed purpose'. The applicant will therefore need to secure a deed of variation from the CoE.

St John's Church was the focus of the violent disorder which rocked Hanley earlier this month, as anti-Muslim protestors clashed with counter-protestors in Town Road. Mr Zamir compared the online misinformation which fuelled the nationwide riots to the social media claims about the graves at St John's Church, and called for more 'honest communication' in future.

He said: "These incidents underscore the dangers of misinformation, something we have previously discussed online. It is clear that misinformation can easily fuel tensions and disrupt the harmony of our community.

"Going forward, it is crucial that we work together to counteract false narratives and foster open, honest communication. The new facilities, particularly the museum and multi-faith library, are designed to encourage dialogue and understanding, helping to build stronger connections between different groups in our community."

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