Plans to relocate a Leicester mosque have been approved.

The trustees of the Masjid Salahuddin in Belgrave Gate say they want to move their place of worship 200 metres away to a new premises in Upper George Street, St Matthews.

Leicester City Council’s planning committee has approved a plan to change the use of the commercial building.

The trustees of the mosque have said there will be no increase in the 80 current worshippers and forty children who attend classes at the existing building.

But some supporters of the move wrote to the council saying it was needed because other mosques on the area had become overcrowded.

The scheme was given planning permission despite 25 objections to the move being sent to planning officers as well as a petition signed by 26 people.

The concerns centred on health and safety issues, potential problems with parking and congestion.

The objectors argued the area already had bad traffic problems as it is a busy industrial estate near the near the Burleys Roundabout.

Further concerns centred on noise caused by worship at night and the argument that there are already other mosques to serve people nearby.

What supporters say

Backers of the plan said Muslims contribute a lot to the UK and should be able to worship and that the new building was conveniently close to the homes of the people who will use it.

Planning officer recommended the councillors approve the plan, which they did.

Council planning manager Steve Brown said the proposal was to smarten the building up by re-instating windows.

Planning conditions have been imposed to prevent noise affecting people who live nearby.

A council spokesman said: “The proposal is acceptable in principle and will provide local community facilities, which is a priority land use for the potential development area.

“It will have a very positive impact regarding design, and a positive impact regarding access.”