A MUSLIM billionaire has won permission to turn a major London landmark into a mosque.
Mega-rich Asif Aziz, 56, known as Mr West End will take over the Trocadero in the centre of the capital.
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Asif Aziz is CEO and founder of property group Criterion Caption Credit: PA:Press Association 3
The Trocadero is between Piccadilly circus and Soho Credit: Rex Features 3
Plans for the building to be turned into a mosque Credit: Aziz Foundation
He had applied to build a 1,000-person capacity mosque but plans were withdrawn because of backlash from residents.
But now Westminster Council has approved a three-storey mosque for 390 worshippers, reports the Mail on Sunday.
Its thought it will be called 'Piccadilly Prayer Space' and could be open within months.
A council spokesperson said: “A planning application by the Aziz Foundation to convert a part of the London Trocadero was approved by the council's planning committee in May 2023.”
The Trocadero, situated between Picadilly circus and Soho, first opened in 1896 as a restaurant - but it closed in 1965.
It reopened in 1984 as an exhibition and entertainment space - with the building sponsored by Sega.
It was downscaled in 2011 before part of the building reopened as a hotel in 2020.
Mr Aziz bought the Trocadero itself for more than ￡220million in 2005.
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It's believed he is founding the mosque through his charitable arm, the Aziz Foundation.
They say the mosque will serve Muslims who work in the area, as well as those visiting London as tourists.
Mr Aziz is CEO and founder of property group Criterion Caption, which owns large portions of London's West End.