Key Points
- Dawat-e-Islami UK, a registered charity, has submitted plans to refurbish and extend the disused Sunnyside Community Centre on Moisant Street in Great Lever, Bolton.
- The proposed redevelopment aims to provide education training, indoor play areas, and sports facilities for the local community.
- The centre has been vacant since 2018 due to vandalism, antisocial behaviour, and health and safety issues, including a faulty central heating system requiring over £50,000 in repairs.
- Bolton Council planning officers have recommended approval of the plans, describing the site as an underutilized and deteriorating asset in a residential area.
- Alternative proposals for the site included conversion into a discount surplus shop and café by Community Shop CIC, but Dawat-e-Islami's community-focused plans have progressed to approval stage.
- Local councillor Emily Mort from Tonge with the Haulgh ward called the initiative a "fantastic addition" to Great Lever, citing its past popularity.
- Planning officer Martin Mansell noted the facility's disrepair and long-term vacancy to councillors.
- Dawat-e-Islami UK operates a network of Madrassa Tul Madina across the UK, focusing on Islamic education for children, and Jamia Tul Madina for advanced Islamic studies.
Great Lever (Bolton Today) April 27, 2026 - Dawat-e-Islami UK, a prominent Islamic charity, has unveiled ambitious plans to breathe new life into the long-vacant Sunnyside Community Centre on Moisant Street in Great Lever, Bolton. The proposal, which seeks council approval for refurbishment and extension works, promises to deliver vital education training, indoor play facilities, and sports amenities to serve the local community.
What is Dawat-e-Islami UK's Vision for the Centre?
The charity's blueprint centres on transforming the derelict building into a multifaceted community hub. As detailed in planning documents covered by The Bolton News, Dawat-e-Islami UK intends to install education training spaces, indoor play areas for children, and sports facilities to address local needs in this residential neighbourhood.
Dawat-e-Islami UK, known for its global network of over 6,000 Madrassa Tul Madina centres providing Islamic education to approximately 270,000 children worldwide, aligns this project with its UK mission. Their website emphasises secure environments for young Muslims to learn the Quran and Sunnah, a model they plan to replicate here.
The extension would expand the gross internal floor area, drawing parallels to their Wembley project, where they acquired a 14,500 sqft complex for masajid, madrassas, and Darul Madinah schools.
Why Has the Sunnyside Centre Been Disused?
The Sunnyside Community Centre shut down in 2018 amid escalating vandalism and antisocial behaviour. Planning officer Martin Mansell, as reported by Bolton Council updates via Yahoo UK News, informed councillors that the facility had lain unoccupied for years, falling into disrepair.
Bolton Council documents highlight severe health and safety risks from the damage, compounded by a central heating system failure estimated at over £50,000 to fix. Cllr Emily Mort of Tonge with the Haulgh ward, quoted in the same coverage, recalled its former vibrancy:
"It was very popular before, and this will be a fantastic addition to Great Lever."
The site, described as an "underutilised and deteriorating asset" in council reports, sits in a densely residential area, making revival urgent to curb further decline.
What Were the Competing Plans for the Site?
Prior to Dawat-e-Islami's bid, proposals emerged to convert the centre into a discount surplus shop and café. As covered by Yahoo UK News on 11 April 2026, developers sought Bolton Council's nod for this retail transformation, noting the centre's vacancy since 2018.
The planning report positioned it as a community asset in need of repurposing. However, on 20 April 2026, Bolton Today reported council approval for Community Shop CIC's similar shop-and-café scheme, praising it as a "sustainable community hub" to combat vandalism.
Dawat-e-Islami's education-centric plans, submitted around the same period and covered by The Bolton News, appear to have superseded these, with officers recommending approval for its community benefits.
Who Supports the Revival Project?
Local leaders have voiced strong backing. Cllr Emily Mort, speaking to Yahoo UK News, shared her personal ties to Great Lever and endorsed the refurbishment:
"This will be a fantastic addition."
Planning officer Martin Mansell detailed the site's woes to councillors, underscoring the need for intervention. Bolton Council's planning committee, set to decide imminently, received recommendations favouring the charity's non-commercial approach over retail alternatives.
Dawat-e-Islami UK's track record bolsters confidence. Their Jamia Tul Madina programme offers free Dars-e-Nizami courses (5-8 years) to train future Islamic scholars, aiming to
"reform ourselves and the people of the entire world."
How Does This Fit Dawat-e-Islami's Broader UK Efforts?
The charity actively expands UK infrastructure. Their website lists ongoing projects for religious centres and welfare campaigns, including the Wembley purchase of a former worship and school complex.
Madrassa Tul Madina already operates nationwide, prioritising Islamic education for youth. This Great Lever initiative extends that reach, targeting indoor play and sports alongside learning facilities absent since 2018.
As a registered entity under the Charity Commission, Dawat-e-Islami UK focuses on propagation of the Quran and Sunnah, with the centre poised to serve local Muslims and broader welfare.
What Challenges Did the Centre Face Before Closure?
Vandalism plagued the site relentlessly. Bolton Council reports, cited by Yahoo UK News, pinpointed antisocial behaviour as the primary closure trigger in 2018, rendering it unsafe.
Repairs spiralled, with heating costs alone topping £50,000. The building deteriorated further unoccupied, becoming a blight in Great Lever's residential fabric.
Earlier Bolton Today coverage on the shop plan echoed this, labelling it plagued by issues and in need of sustainable reuse.
When and How Will the Project Proceed?
Plans reached Bolton Council recently, with The Bolton News reporting on 27 April 2026. Approval seems likely, given officer endorsements and community support.
Refurbishment would follow swiftly, extending the structure for new amenities. No exact timeline is public, but parallels like Wembley suggest rapid community mobilisation via donations.
The committee's decision, potentially this week, hinges on balancing residential impact with benefits.
Why is This Important for Great Lever Residents?
Revival promises multifaceted gains. Education training fills gaps for youth, indoor play aids families, and sports promote health—all in a vandalism-ravaged void.
Cllr Mort's enthusiasm reflects local sentiment: a return to the centre's heyday. In a residential pocket, it counters isolation and decay.
Dawat-e-Islami's non-profit model ensures accessibility, unlike commercial bids, fostering long-term cohesion.
What Do Planning Documents Reveal?
Officers like Martin Mansell emphasise disrepair and vacancy in reports to councillors. The Bolton News details extensions for specified facilities, recommending approval.
Yahoo UK contrasts it with the shop plan, both addressing the same "deteriorating asset." Bolton Today hails sustainability post-approval of alternatives, but Dawat-e-Islami prevails in community focus.
How Does Dawat-e-Islami Fund Such Projects?
Donations drive expansions, as seen in Wembley calls on wembleylondonproject.co.uk: "Please give your donations to Dawat-e-Islami." UK projects page lists construction efforts.
Charity status ensures transparency via Charity Commission registers. Free education models rely on community support for scholars and madrassas.
What Happens if Plans are Approved?
Post-approval, works commence to revive operations. Education, play, and sports roll out, reclaiming the site from vandals.
Monitoring ensures compliance, with councillors like Mort overseeing benefits. Great Lever gains a beacon, mirroring Dawat-e-Islami's global footprint.