A mosque could be built in the centre of Romford but the charity behind the plans must find millions of pounds to fund it.

The Havering Islamic Cultural Centre (HICC) has been in discussion with Havering Council about the possibility of building a mosque at 222-226 South Street in Romford.

In a statement to counter "misinformation" online, Havering Council leader Ray Morgon confirmed the HICC was in "advanced talks" with Bridge Close LLP, the council's regeneration partner, for the sale of its current Waterloo Road site.

This is part of a wider redevelopment of the Bridge Close area for up to 1,070 homes, a primary school, health services and business space.

Under the terms of compulsory purchase order legislation, Cllr Morgon said the council is legally obliged to pay for "equivalent like-for-like reinstatement" - meaning it must pay to provide the HICC a site to offer its prayer services elsewhere.

He also said it must, by law, offer the HICC a "fair market price" for its Waterloo Road site.

The council says it hoped that a new site for the HICC could be included as part of its Bridge Close development.

But it said the HICC wants an alternative site in Romford to expand its services.

The HICC has earmarked the 222-226 South Street address, formerly barbecue restaurant Smokey's Shack, as a "suitable" location for its mosque.

However, the Recorder understands there is no current planning application from the HICC for the South Street site, and nothing has been approved by the council.

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Negotiations with the current owner of 222-226 South Street are ongoing, the council added.

Separately, a planning application, A0037.24, for restaurant signage at the South Street address was validated by the council on July 30.

A spokesperson for Casia-Robinson Limited, acting as the agent in this application, confirmed "all clients" connected to the restaurant were aware of a proposal for a mosque there.

The HICC said on its website that architects John McAslan and Partners have been appointed to design the mosque and it features computer generated images of the prospective building.

With regard to costs, the HICC said building a mosque would cost it millions.

"We anticipate a shortfall of £4.5 million to complete construction," the HICC stated on its website.

This shortfall must be paid for by the HICC and not the council, according to Cllr Morgon.

The HICC has to raise the additional funds for this from the community, he said, on top of what it gets from the council for the CPO settlement.

So far it has raised £826,000 of the £4.5m needed, according to the HICC's website.

The HICC said the planned mosque would fit more than 1,000 people during a single Friday prayer.

It added: "The existing mosque lacks the necessary space for the increasing number of weekly visitors and for our fully-booked classes.

"Moreover, the new facility will provide improved storage and distribution for our essential food bank and soup kitchen services."

It plans to initiate a planning application "soon", according to its website, and if granted permission the mosque would take about 18 months to finish building.

The proposal on its website shows a three-floor building, with prayer halls on each level.

The HICC aims for it to be an "eco-mosque", which will use "the latest technology to reduce our carbon footprint and running costs".