Sikh temple project for disused Cosworth building in Northampton
PART of a disused factory building, owned by Formula 1 engineering firm Cosworth in Northampton, could be converted into a Sikh temple.
The development would involved two-storey building in St James Mill Road, St James, which is currently owned by Cosworth, being bought by the town’s Sikh community and converted into a temple.
Plans which were submitted to Northampton Borough Council this week, explained the temple would replace the current Sikh Gurdwara and community centre in St George’s Street, Semilong.
They said: “It is proposed to re-use the existing Cosworth building as a Gurdwara and community centre.
“The proposed use will involve a small extension to the building and the creation of an internal second floor.”
The development would also feature a gymnasium, prayer hall, kitchen, shower room, meeting room, computer room, a library, a prayer hall and a number of classrooms.
The plans for the site added: “The over-arching view is that the development of this site into a Gurdwara and community centre is considered appropriate in its use and location and that the proposed building would reinforce and strengthen the existing streetscape, while also providing a high-quality development on a large site.” The Cosworth factory building is one of a number owned by the firm in St James Mill Road. It has not been used by the company for the past 18 months and is currently empty.
Members of the Sikh community have been looking for a site in Northampton for a new Gurdwara for the past seven years. They said the new building was needed because they had outgrown their current base in St George’s Street.
They said their current building was too small to hold many religious events – including marriages and funerals – and suffers problems with parking because of its location near the town centre.
If the Cosworth building was redeveloped into a temple, it would provide 121 parking spaces and be used as a base for at least 70 employees or volunteers.
Officials from the Guildhall’s planning department will consider the proposals over the coming months.
They are expected to make a final decision on whether or not the development should go ahead by March.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
tish
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:56 PMNot sure if the pic is of the building as it is now, or is of the proposed building, but if that is the height of it and it offers 121 parking places I wish they were moving to Kingsthorpe, all we are offered at the old Bective shoe works site is a 5 storey monstrosity providing 399 student bedsits with no parking places for them
GurcharanSingh
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:59 PMAah, Blizzy Boy! So you live in Kuala Lumpur!Now blizzy boy perhaps I should ask the government of Malaysia to kick the likes of you out?After all I come from there.Ask around the Malaysians and there would be many many that have known or attended their Sikh friends" do "in the Sikh Gurduaras dotted around Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country, and taken the tasteful langer graciously!By the way, expo65,appreciate your comments,but let us stick to our country the UK.
expo65
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 09:56 PMNO.19 - Idid some research - and would add this to your comment. And to other comments - SIKHS have done proud to motherland India and to any of their new adopted countries like UK , CANADA, USA, OR EAST AFRICA ETC. Welcome to St.JAMES ? i AM SURE LIKE ALL OTHER SIKH CENTRES YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND HOLD A PROUD POSITION WITHIN NORTHAMPTON.I am sure thay would have done a great job with our BUS STATION , made it into something which our overpaid consultations could not THINK. But do you know that Sikhs are one of the hardest working, prosperous and diversified communities in the world! * The Sikhs contribute: * 33% of total income tax * 67% of total charities * 45% of Indian Army * 59,000+ Gurudwaras serve LANGAR (free food) to about 6,000,000 peopleeveryday & all this when THEY make only 1.4% of the total INDIAN POPULATION MORAL:* The secret behind their universal success is their willingness to do any job with utmost dedication and pride. A SIKH will drive a truck or set upa roadside garage or a dhaba, run a fruit juice stall, take up small time carpentry, but he will never see him beg."
bobscrabby
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 04:59 PMDo none of you recall that blizzy boy left UK and lives in Kuala Lumpur , he refers to Northampton a cesspit and has nothing but derision for his ex Country , all his so said comments should not be allowed , free speech indeed .
seanbrar
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 09:38 AMEveryone is entitled to their views and it's only right that we defend that right even if we disagree with them or find them offensive. That's what makes Britain Great. So blizzyboy I don't agree with anything u say but respect ur right to say it. The gurudawara is not about British empire or Sikh heroics when standing side by side with the British. It's a basic religious right that's entrenched in law. A suitable site has been found and the council will undertake its consultation and apply the due process. As for creating jobs , it will do so simply through the planning and build process. Over a million pounds will be spent ultimately which will create jobs for builders architect and project managers. All persons are well come to attend the gurudawara as alluded to by other commentators. So whilst I understand some trepidation among a few in the community on the final analysis I hope u r able to see that these concerns are without objective foundations.
Mackeeper
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:17 PMThis is a great way making use of buildings that are not used. You see so many empty buildings these days that if a community, group or business want to make use then we should encourage it. There appear to be a lot of misconceptions mentioned here and we are missing out on the benefits. I recall reading about the sikh community's plans 18 months to look for a site and what impressed me most was that they were not out there asking for money as they had raised their own but the humbleness in which they went about it. All too often we hear about groups wanting govtcouncil money and whilst i accept that there are many genuine cases here we have someone who has gone about raising money, putting together plans and considered the community aspect. for example: - meeting roomsoffice available for hireuse - all too often we hear of people not having access to such facilities. - gym facilities - again there are not enough of these or where they exist they are very expensive - community events - the sikh community had an exhibition at the museum in northampton recently, health classes, yoga, welfare advice, legal surgeries. - raising money for local charities through fundraising events, charitable donations, serving food to the homeless. We should be proud of ventures like these as they all help the town become a much better place for us to live. For those who claim the building could be used for jobs, look at the huge numbers of empty warehouses all around. we have a serious economic problems in this country. this project will create jobs and pump money in to the local economy. Renovations work will require builders etc, weddings will mean people coming to the town and spending money, be it in hotels, shops, petrol stations. if you look at national statistics you will see that this will encourage new families into the area, who will buy houses, spend money in the towns shops, set up businesses. The young kids who grow up in northampton will more likely stay because they will have all the facilities for their extended family. this means northampton retains people who know the fabric of the town. Its a win win for all - Its all too easy to look on the negative side of things and by doing so we lose opportunities. lets not do this here - the sikh community in Northampton have been an integral part of this town since the early seventies, lets be open minded and embrace this venture.
GurcharanSingh
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:43 PMBlizzy boy, You asked a question and then self assumed the answer- that apart from Sikhs no one else would be welcome!I am afraid you disastrously wrong in your assumption!Sikh Gurduaras are opened to all provided they follow a protocol of cleaniness and decency.The Sikh gurduaras actively participate in local communities and also support more than often the homelss and needy of local communities.This is very actively seen in the Sikh Gurduaras all over the country.Ofcourse, the provison of extra facilities depends upon the congregations ability to sustain financially; of course to date, No Sikh institution has gone under as the community strives hard to make sure such institutions are successfully maintained.As for servants of the empire etc such has long gone, and there is a new culture of pride among all that were associated with the empire and also those who detested the empire.As the political arena of UK has changed, it is OUR responsibility that we as citizens of this nation, make it great again, irrespective of colour, religion or ethnic origins.Meanwhile some of us do not wish to be dependent upon the state, allow such communities to flourish and enrich the nation and all communities.Sikh community is one such community, I must say that has depended the least, or perhaps more staitiscally proven, not at all on hand outs and state fundings.As British,we have lost lot of our past courage and enterprise skills so we have a lot to re- learn from such hard working communities.Live and let live, all.
expo65
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 06:42 PMMakes a really good change to see self help and reliance. And to think only couple of weeks we had some Somali groups making all excuses about their needs , and seeking our tax payers funding. Over decades we must have funded hundreds of groups and provided with all sorts of help, support and on going funding , and we always get a kick in the teeth , never satisfied , and want more and more. Yes, this is a good proposal , and hopefully it will bring life back into that part of the town. I understand this are very jolly, colourful, peaceful, family friendly, people to get on . Let us hope the centre can be allowed to be used by other communities or groups. Good on this SIKH people, this is what this country needs.
tish
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 06:26 PMOn Heritage day last year I visited the Sikh Temple , I was really impressed by their history and the fact that they are peaceable people who are happy to integrate whilst valuing their own traditions and culture, its not their problem that we don't do the same.
Guv
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:38 PMDear rolymo, 'Natives paid to fight.' Seriously? Do you actually still use such words?
Guv
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:32 PMDear blizzy boy, "Thank God I'm an atheist?!" Hope you can spot the irony in your own words???!!!
Guv
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:29 PMTo blizzy boy, reading your comments felt very much like deja vu. You lack knowledge and understanding of modern day Britain. It is time for you to take off your rose tinted glasses methinks when thinking about the past of 'Great Britain' and the 'Great British empire.' There was nothing 'great' about an empire built on slavery, violence, exploitation and arrogance based on a misplaced notion of white supremacy at the time. Modern day Britain is more diverse and there is a greater understanding and relationships between different communities. Regardless of your comments if the council decides to approve this application or decide this site could be utilised in another way i.e. to create jobs for the local economy that decision should fair and without bias and prejudice particularly on the grounds of race!
blizzy boy
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:24 PMLady Muck Britain used to have freedom of speech which is far more valuable than freedom of worship thank God i'm an athiest
Inderveer
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 04:39 PMCompletely agree we need more enterprise - but the sites been empty for two and a half years! So isn't better to create 70 job opportunities at the site than leave it empty? As far as the northampton "enterprise zone" goes - shoes cobbled together for Barratts and other low cost shoe retailers just isn't enough to sustain a business. Not when minimum wage restrictions make it cheaper for countries like China to mass produce and import into major retailers in the UK.
rolymo
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 03:18 PMStupid,emotional "Clap-Trapp" about war games and loyalty to colonial mercenaries (natives paid to fight). This will certainly not secure a future for us or our children.We need engineers NOT religionists. That is a commercial trading estate and we need every sqft of manufacturing space made available to expand our enterprise zone and make real jobs, not serving tea to "Hobo's" and lay abouts. A good manufacturing enterprise in that building can be up and running in a very short time and will produce much more benefit to the community than another house of prayer.
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.