Billionaire property developer Asif Aziz, known as “Mr. West End,” received approval in 2023 to convert part of the iconic London Trocadero building into a three-storey mosque/prayer space, not a full hotel conversion. While widely shared stories suggest he bought it after being denied a place to pray, reports indicate he purchased the building in 2005 and the mosque is part of a broader commercial redevelopment, including a 740-room hotel. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Details of the Project:
- Location: The Trocadero, located between Piccadilly Circus and Soho, London.
- The Project: The “Piccadilly Prayer Space” is situated in a former cinema area of the building, not transforming the entire hotel.
- Capacity: The facility is designed to accommodate approximately 390 worshippers.
- Purpose: The project aimed to provide a prayer space for local Muslims and tourists visiting central London.
- Context: While some reports suggest this move was motivated by a personal experience of being denied a prayer space, others note that the property was acquired for its business value in 2005, with the prayer space project being a later development. [2, 3, 4]
Asif Aziz is a seasoned investor with extensive holdings in Central London. The approval for the mosque followed earlier rejections for a larger proposal. [2, 3]
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