Plans have resurfaced to convert a pub into a place of worship - just six months after they were refused.

Charity Al-Haqq Academy sought to change the use of The Peacock, on the junction of St Andrew’s Road and Peacock Street, in Gravesend, last year.

It applied for permission to transform the ground floor of the now-closed public house into an academy with community and religious services, including a prayer hall, a food bank, a youth club, and a mosque.

However, despite receiving 107 letters of support to 23 objections, Gravesham council planning officers rejected the application in October.

In their report, they said the scheme would see the loss of a public house and no evidence had been submitted to show it was “no longer economically viable” as a pub.

They also raised concerns over the opening hours, stating they lacked clarity and could not safeguard the impact on neighbours.

Last Monday (April 28), Al-Haqq Academy submitted another planning application to change the use of the building, which it said addressed the previous reasons for refusal.

The new scheme looks to convert the ground floor into a mosque, also known as a masjid, for around 65 worshippers and religious instruction, also known as a madrasa, for 30 children.

Although it could accommodate 65 people at one time, the charity said in practice this would not be the case as some prayer times are less well attended than others.

It would hold five prayers a day, including the early morning prayer known as Fajr and the late evening prayer known as Isha, if approved.

The submitted planning, design and access statement explained the timings would depend on the season, with Fajr starting at 4.30am in summer and 7am in winter and Isha at 10.50pm and 7.30pm.

The madrasa would be held between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays and 9am and 12.30pm on weekends, if approved.

The statement also said that Islamic tradition promotes walking to the mosque so there would be minimal disruption in the area and that places of worship and not usually “noisy” or impact the amenity of residents.

The planning documents argued: “It is considered that the proposed change of use to the masjid and madrasa and their capacities would result in an impact that is no greater than that of its previous use as a public house.

“Places of worship have less impact on amenity than public house uses, which present a particular set of issues to local residents and the police and emergency services.”

In response to the council officer’s concerns on the viability and loss of a pub, the applicant explained that the site had been on the market since 2020 until it was sold to them in 2024.

According to the submitted viability assessment, the owners of The Peacock were “struggling” to sell it as a boozer and had no interest from potential operators, so they were “forced to look at alternative buyers”.

The applicant argues the use change would not cause an under-provision of public houses as there are nine alternatives less than a 10-minute walk away, such as the Forrester’s Arms and Waterloo Tavern.

They added: “The use of the premises as ‘a building of social infrastructure’ is not being lost. Rather, it is being replaced by another building of social infrastructure that serves the local community.”

The organisation, which is based in nearby Queen Street, also said that there is a “significant under-provision” of Muslim prayer facilities in the area.

The planning, design and access statement explained that, according to the 2021 census, there are 3,326 Muslims living in the borough.

However, there are only two mosques, the Central Mosque and Shah Jalal Mosque, which are said to both be “operating beyond capacity”, which has caused issues with overcrowding and traffic.

The statement added: “There is a justified locational and functional requirement to provide a place of worship that meets the needs of the local Muslim community.

“It is a sustainable development which will secure the long-term social and cultural needs of the place of worship in the community and reduce the need for travel elsewhere.”

At the time of writing, four letters of support had been received and no objections had been lodged.

A decision on the new application is expected by June 23.

In September, a separate application from Al-Haqq Academy was approved to convert the first and second floors of the former boozer into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

It will see the existing four-bedroom flat converted into a five-bedroom home with two bathrooms and a kitchen.

The plans were approved by councillors at a planning meeting after also receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from neighbours.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

Al-Haqq Academy is a charity which offers services such as a food bank, counselling, prayer sessions, and a youth club for everyone.