Ritesh Raj’s proposal to expand his bungalow at 101 Ebdon Road, Weston-super-Mare, was met with numerous objections fueled by unfounded rumors that he was “secretly building a mosque.” The planned development, which involved replacing the existing bungalow with a four-bedroom home, includes one room designated as a “prayer lounge” on the submitted floorplans.
Addressing North Somerset Council’s planning committee, Mr. Raj expressed his frustration. He revealed that a social media post falsely accused him of bribing planning officers and fabricating committee membership to push through mosque construction. Although the post was deleted, its rapid spread led to widespread misinformation, resulting in objections rooted in fear and assumptions linked to his religion rather than the project’s actual details.
While some objections referenced these false claims, others raised legitimate concerns about the extension’s scale, the height of a new boundary wall, and previous planning permission violations. An objector’s spokesperson described the proposed flat roof dormer extension as excessively large, likening it to “an aircraft carrier flight deck,” and highlighted errors in the application.
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Originally, planning permission was granted in 2024, and construction began but was halted due to deviations from the approved plans. The site has remained unfinished since. The new application sought part-retrospective permission aligning with construction progress and adjustments, including minor window variations, a front canopy, and a side extension. The shift from an extension to a “replacement dwelling” application was necessary after more demolition than initially intended.
Mr. Raj emphasized there was no intention to circumvent planning rules, attributing discrepancies to builders’ decisions made without consulting the architect. He assured the committee that measures have been taken to prevent future mistakes.
The planning committee overwhelmingly approved the revised plans by a 7-1 vote, with the condition that the boundary wall be lowered before construction resumes. Committee member Dan Thomas stressed that the residents’ religion is entirely irrelevant to planning decisions.
Reflecting on the decision, Mr. Raj said, “It was comforting to see that the outcome was based on the merits of the application rather than unfounded rumors.”