PLANS for a £3.5million Bolton mosque, community hall and nursery have been finalised.

The Masjid-e-Salaam Madrassah Trust plan to relocate from their current site 200 yards away on Ramsay Street to a new two-storey building on Blackburn Road, Bolton.

It will be built on the site of Brierfield Hotel pub, which often hosted live music and closed in February 2016. It was demolished earlier this year.

Planning documents submitted to the council, state: “The Masjid-e-Salaam Trust currently occupy a site at 4 Ramsay Street.

“The current site is small and does not provide sufficient space for prayer.

“The constrained space available at the current site also precludes community uses and Islamic teaching from taking place.

“The intention is that the new facility will enable the cultural offering provided by the trust to be widened introducing new facilities and space available to the community it serves.

“This would include a community room, teaching areas, day nursery and a ladies prayer room which will widen the role of the building and support a valuable local cultural facility.”

The current mosque has around 100 members who predominantly live within a mile radius of the site.

Plans include 43 parking spaces, cycle parking and new planting.

Mohammed Patel, secretary of the trust, said: “This marks a significant milestone for our investment in the local area and will help us relocate from the current facility in Ramsay Street where we have been for over 20 years.

“There we have very limited parking and space to accommodate the growing needs of the community.

“We have been working with Bradshaw Gass & Hope, a Bolton firm, who have taken our brief to create a contemporary, sustainable facility that meets needs of the community, and not just for faith-based activities.

“We take pride in identifying ourselves as Boltonians, and the active role we play in the wider community.

“With this is mind, the new facility will include a day nursery providing childcare, as well as a designated community space which can be used for activities such as out of school tuition, exercise groups and healthcare workshops.

“Our volunteers have also identified a growing need to provide a space for those needing help and advice, inducing a food bank and soup kitchen.

“Our plans look to maintain the ambience of the area as detailed in the landscaping proposal which includes where possible, preservation of existing and placement of new trees and shrubs.

“The site plan also details ample off-street parking, something we lack at our current facility.

“We are excited about the possibilities this development will open up for all of us and look forward to welcoming the wider community at our new facility.”

The plans will be consulted on by neighbours before being decided on by councillors at a later date.