The former Shell petrol station site that will now become a place of worship

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A synagogue and food shop is to be built at the site of a former petrol station in Prestwich. The L-shaped site, which was for years a Texaco and before that Shell filling station, will become a place of worship after Bury Council approved a planning application for mixed-use community and retail building to serve the Jewish community, including a synagogue and kosher food store.

Documents in support of the plans said the development would create in the region of six full-time and six part-time jobs. A statement in support of the plans said: “There remains a shortage of facilities designed to specifically serve the local Jewish community, which forms the dominant population group to this catchment of this local centre. “The new synagogue user has not been determined at this stage.

A user will be identified to serve the local community. The site currently suffers from a relatively poor-quality environment and provides an unappealing view for those approaching the area along Bury Old Road. "It is evident this has the potential to bring about significant environmental improvements by removing the existing unattractive structures and extensive unbroken hard-standing and replacing this this with a high quality modern development, public-realm and landscaping with a much needed improved access arrangement.” The ground floor retail use can operate from 8am to 11pm Monday to Friday and 8am -4pm on Sundays.

The first floor synagogue has a planning condition to operate between 6.30am -9am and 6.30pm and 10.30pm, Monday to Friday and Sunday and 6.30am to 10.30pm on Saturdays.