Construction has begun on a £2.5 million mosque on the edge of the Lake District. The South Lakes Islamic Centre charity, which is behind the project, claims it will be the first mosque in the Lake District and the only one within a 50-mile radius. However, the mosque will actually fall outside of the Lake District National Park’s boundary.
The charity says the place of worship, near Dalton-in Furness in the South Lakes area, will be used by more than 100 local Muslim families. According to the charity’s social media channels, work began on the site earlier this month after full planning permission was granted in 2022. The charity warned that the work could stop by April due to a lack of funds, but the extra money had now been secured.
In a video, the charity said enough funds have been secured to extend the works for a further three weeks, adding construction is estimated to cost £30,000 per week.
“This work must not stop,” a person from the charity said in the video, confirming foundations were about to be laid.
The charity is continuing to appeal for funds to support the build, with one online fundraiser alone raising more than £130,000.
It says the mosque will also benefit tourists to the area where Muslims have worked and lived for more than 40 years.
The Lake District is one of the most popular areas for holidaymakers in the UK.
The South Lakes Islamic Centre says on its website: “This is more than a building, it’s a lifeline for our community, shaping the hearts of our children and anchoring their identities firmly within the masjid.
“The closest masjid is currently a 100 mile round-trip, and our vision remains unwavering: to make the scenic South Lakes a place of choice for Muslim families.”
The three-storey building includes a prayer hall and community centre, as well as a car park.
The Daily Express approached the South Lakes Islamic Centre for a further comment.
