A Muslim businessman has obtained the necessary permits to begin construction of a mosque to replace one of the well-known entertainment landmarks in central London. According to reports from several local newspapers in Britain, the businessman and billionaire Asif Aziz has received approval to convert "Trocadero" into an Islamic center with a mosque where daily prayers will be held for Muslims.
"Trocadero" is a renowned entertainment site located in the heart of London, near the famous Piccadilly Circus and close to the Soho area, which attracts millions of tourists annually. Aziz, who is 56 years old, had to withdraw in 2020 from a previous project to build a mosque that would accommodate a thousand people due to complaints from local residents and far-right groups.
The approved plans include constructing a mosque that will accommodate 390 worshippers in the three-story building. The charity that Aziz owns and heads states that the mosque will serve the Muslims working in the area as well as tourists. A spokesperson for the Westminster local council confirmed in a talk published by the Daily Mail that the planning application submitted by Aziz's organization to convert part of London’s Trocadero into a mosque was approved by the council's planning committee in May 2023.
Aziz purchased the location for over £220 million ($288 million) in 2005 through his giant real estate company. It was previously one of London’s prominent entertainment complexes, hosting a hotel with 490 rooms. This entertainment center dates back to 1896 when it first opened as a restaurant, then closed for the first time in 1965. In 1984, it was transformed into a major exhibition hall and entertainment center, and in 1997 it became home to the first IMAX 3D cinema in Britain. Its size was reduced in 2011, and a part of the building was reopened as a hotel three years ago.
Asif Aziz is considered one of the most prominent Muslim businessmen in Britain, owning a vast portfolio of properties in central London and managing a real estate portfolio valued at £3.6 billion across London and the Southeast of England.
