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The billionaire brothers, Zuber and Mohsin Issa, have refused to abandon their multi-million-pound initiative to establish Britain’s largest dedicated Muslim cemetery, despite the recent withdrawal of their planning application ahead of a council vote that recommended rejection. The project, led by the charitable Issa Foundation, is a direct response to the deepening crisis of inadequate burial space, which has severely impacted the Muslim community across the UK, particularly in the North West.
Latest Development: Withdrawal and Immediate Recommitment
The decision to withdraw the application for the 45-acre Memorial Garden site, situated on greenbelt land near their hometown of Blackburn, was made this week. This move came after planning officers at Hyndburn Borough Council issued a damning report recommending refusal, citing nine key reasons including "inappropriate development" on the greenbelt, a "harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area," and concerns over groundwater pollution.
However, a spokesperson for the Issa Foundation swiftly confirmed that this setback is only temporary, stating that the brothers will resubmit their application. The withdrawal was strategically undertaken to allow their professional team to "revisit and refine the proposal further" to ensure it "fully meets planning policy requirements and addresses the views and expectations of all stakeholders."
A Critical Need for Dedicated Facilities
The demand for dedicated burial plots, which accommodate the specific religious requirements of the Muslim faith, has reached a critical level across the UK. With many existing facilities at or near capacity, the situation was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Issa Foundation’s proposal aims to address this strategic regional shortage, offering 12,250 burial plots—significantly more than the current largest site, the Gardens of Peace in East London, which holds 10,000 plots on 21.5 acres.
The £100 million scheme, though primarily aimed at the Muslim community, would feature a single pavilion complex housing a funeral parlour, prayer halls, condolence rooms, and ablution facilities, all while being open to people of all faiths from the wider East Lancashire area. The burial plots themselves would be laid out in a geometric pattern oriented towards Qibla (Mecca), a requirement of Islamic tradition.
Ongoing Community and Political Opposition
The project has faced relentless opposition from nearby residents, who mobilised the campaign group 'Say No to the Cemetery.' Critics argue that the benefits do not outweigh the harm to the protected landscape.
In response to the withdrawal, Councillor Steve Smithson, a prominent opponent of the plan, described the applicants' actions as "cowardly," claiming they sought to avoid public embarrassment. "If they really wanted to leave a legacy, and do something for others—I say, give the land to the residents of Oswaldtwistle so that we can create our own open green space," he added.
Despite the fierce local opposition and the technical planning challenges, the billionaires remain "committed to delivering a sensitively designed and much-needed facility" for the community struggling with the shortage of suitable final resting places. The resubmission marks a renewed determination to push the massive charitable project forward.
The included video shows aerial footage of the land earmarked for the proposed burial site, providing a visual context to the scale and location of the controversial plans. Plans to build Britain's biggest Muslim cemetery for 12k people slammed by locals.
