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Council investigates why derelict former Islamic Institute in Flintham has not yet been demolished




An investigation is under way as to why a derelict former Islamic Institute is still standing when it should have been demolished by now.

The buildings in Flintham fell into disrepair more than 12 years ago and are now derelict and there are concerns locally that they could collapse.

The site owners were served with a notice by Rushcliffe Borough Council last year to demolish the buildings, originally the officers’ mess and allied buildings for RAF Syerston. The notice has expired.

The former Islamic Institute for boys closed in 2007 and has been derelict ever since. Credit: Google Maps (13582243)
The former Islamic Institute for boys closed in 2007 and has been derelict ever since. Credit: Google Maps (13582243)

The Madni Trust, a Nottingham-based education charity, which owns the site, received planning permission in 2016 to build up to 95 homes, and was given a maximum of three years to do so after previous plans fell through.

Raza Ul-Haq, secretary of the Madni Trust and owner of the land, said the trust has re-applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council to demolish the derelict buildings since the application expired in October. He claimed due to bats roosting in the properties, they were unable to carry out any further works.

He said: “Solving the bat issue and demolishing the buildings are our priorities but we are also working with the planning issue. Everything is clear to me and I don’t see any question mark with the situation.”

A spokesman for Rushcliffe Borough Council said it was unable to comment due to ongoing investigations, but stated a planning notice was served on the site in March 2018, giving the landowners six months to demolish the remaining buildings, and an additional two months to remove debris from the site.

Almost nine months on from the expiration of that notice, no fresh application has been received in respect of the site, resulting in an enquiry being launched.

“The place is still looking a mess and the planning application has run out of time, so Madni Trust will have to renew it,” said Mike Elliot, Flintham Parish Council clerk.

Mr Elliot said the community was concerned about the safety of the site, and feared it may fall in on itself and cause more damage.

“It’s a fairly big building that may collapse and I believe one of the floors already has ­— there’s also no windows. There have been a few fires there,” he said.

He said the buildings have been broken into on a number of occasions, even after efforts to secure the perimeter with fencing.

“People are still getting in ­— especially youths. And although no cars go in and out of the site, residents have complained about cars waiting outside the area, possibly dealing drugs,” he said. “This is why the parish council is supporting the borough council in getting the buildings demolished, because there is just no way you can keep people off it.”

The Al-Jamia Al-Islamia institute in Flintham ­— a former boarding school for boys ­— became derelict after it shut in 2007 and was taken over by The Madni Trust to try and recoup money for the school’s private investors.

Mr Elliot said although the Islamic school integrated well within the community when it first opened in 1994, there has not been a good relationship with The Madni Trust.

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