A timely need for Development

Darul Ummah literally means 'Coming Together/House of the Community' which aptly describes what is a multi-purpose community centre, established in 1997 and currently has more than 6,000 people using its facilities and services each week.

Darul Ummah provides a diverse range of community services under one roof, to encourage and assist the local community to thrive and continues to evolve to meet the changing and growing needs of the local community.

The present community centre is housed in a former Victorian Primary School building which has been subject to various periodic alterations over the years. Further alteration to the existing building is becoming increasingly difficult and the local communities demands on the range of facilities offered is such that, to be able to continue to meet these, the only realistic solution is to provide 'a new dynamic, 21st century fit-for-purpose community centre for all'.

"A New, Dynamic & Fit for Purpose Community Centre for All" 

In order to be able to meet the changing community needs to increase the scale of facilities offered and comply with new legislative regulations there is now a need to regenerate the current 19th Century Complex so as to be able to provide the 'fit for purpose' 21st Century Facilities that the community deserves.

Key Features

• Female only Prayer Hall
• Female only Youth Room
• Second Mosque in UK to give Three Times Adhan 
• Increased capacity for the Main Prayer Hall
• Female Student Accommodation
• Crèche
• Disability Access to the whole centre
• Funeral Facility
• Gymnasium
• Play Space
• Project Rooms
• Increase Capacity for Secondary School - from 150 students to 300 students
• Increase Capacity for Evening School - from 160 pupils up to 246 pupils
• Cafeteria & Garden Court
• Multi Purpose Hall

Summery of Main Impacts

• Landmark building to mee the needs of the local community
• Sustainable Development in terms of its design, use, location, construction,  adjacent to a "Vibrant Town Centre" with a choice of public transport facilities
• "One Tower Hamlets" - the precise aim of Darul Ummah by providing "House of the Community" providing inter alia a range of learning and social facilities to ensure equality of opportunity for everyone and ensure inclusiveness.
• The Darul Ummah Development will make an important contribution to improving the quality of life for the local community.
• This will be achieved by meeting local needs through the integeration of local services onto as single site so as to be able to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the community.
• Whilst Darul Ummah already provides a wide range of services from the existing building it is important to the provision of these to evolve and adapt for the learning, cultural, social and recreational needs of the local community.
• The Development has been designed to help meet the Secondary Education needs of the local community and the Borough as a whole. It also provides for adult education with particular help being given to women.
• Landmark Building of high quality which will enhance the public realm providing enhanced education and community, health, childcare and leisure facilities for young and old alike where everyone will be welcomed so as to achieve both inclusivity and reinforce diversity.
• The Centre has been specifically designed to encourage the participation and engagement of women in all activities, including education and assiting them in finding good quality and professional jobs. The crèche facilities will also help women to go to work, either full time or part time.
• Female Student Accommodation will provide for the needs of Muslim women and other women who by reasons of faith, social background or choice prefer to reside in female only accommodation, not currently available at most if not all of the Universities or Colleges in London. This will widen the opportunities for women to take up places offered to them at the world class Universities and other higher educational facilities available in London and will widen thier opportunities in the workplace and in the professions.

The proposed development will have a positive impact on the provision of secondary educational opportunities within the Borough. the specialist facilities provided in terms of teaching of the Islamic Faith and Culture is also of particular benefit to the Muslim Students although the school is not exclusive to students of Islamic Faith.

The proposed Development will also provide enhanced educational opportunities for the Adult Community including English Speaking classes for men and women and careers advice. The centre also provides prayer facilties, sports facilities, library and a range of other community facilities which will enahance on services already provided at the Darul Ummah Centre.

The proposed scheme also provides female student accommodation giving the opportunity for women whose faith or social background deter them from residing in mix male and female student accommodation. This reduces their opportunities to take advantage of the world class education facilities available in the capital and help to create equality in the workplace and profession.

A further important element of the scheme is the porposed crèche facilities - not currently available at the centre. This will enable parents or carers to attend social, training or recreational facilities as well as allowing people to go to work either full-time or part-time knowing that the children they care for are in a safe pleasant and stimulating environment.

Darul Ummah has  been granted Planning Permission for the development of Darul Ummah Centre by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on 31st March 2010 by a unanimous vote by the Council's Planning Committee.