Plans to turn vacant Sheffield job centre into community hub offering 'much needed' religious education

Fatih Akcay, of the UK Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre, is named as the applicant of the plans submitted to Sheffield Council to change the use of the site located at 19 Eastern Avenue, Manor Top.

A statement provided with the plans said the building was on the market for the past two years without any prospect of it being occupied for its former use as offices.

If approved by the council, the plan is to use it for daily adult counselling courses in things like language for groups of up to 30 people between 8.30am and 3pm and groups of 25 between 7pm and 10pm.

There would also be after-school clubs weekdays between 4pm and 7.30pm and 10am until 2pm on the weekends, for groups of between 25 and 30 children.

And there would be two full time and two part time staff who would run the activities.

The statement said: “The proposal would provide a much needed religious education and after school support lessons for children in this very accessible location and therefore would bring this vacant office building into use.

“There are at least 17 off street car parking spaces for the proposed 30 visitors. Furthermore, there is a bus stop in front of the building and a tram stop is within two minutes of walking distance. The visitors would be encouraged to travel to the centre via foot or public transport or other sustainable transport mediums such as cycling. There would be stands for the cyclists who travel to the site via bike.

“The proposal would bring this vacant building into much needed community facility without causing any harm to the neighbouring amenities and would be in accordance with NPPF (national planning policy framework) and UDP (unitary development plan) policies.”

To read the application or comment, go to https://planningapps.sheffield.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=QEHWRUNYM1M00

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