'Not Unlawful': UK Council Defends Sale Of Temple Site To Muslim Group For Mosque

Last Updated:July 14, 2026, 08:23 IST

Bharat Hindu Samaj is seeking a judicial review of the council's decision and wants the court to overturn the sale. 

A British city council defended its controversial decision to sell a complex housing Peterborough’s only Hindu temple to a Muslim organisation planning to redevelop it into a mosque and Islamic centre, arguing before the High Court that the move was lawful despite fierce opposition from the local Hindu community.

The case has drawn significant attention because it pits two faith communities against each other over a site that has served as a Hindu temple for nearly four decades. At the centre of the dispute is the New England Complex in Peterborough, where Bharat Hindu Samaj (BHS) has operated a temple since 1986. The city council decided in February to sell the site to the UK Islamic Mission (UKIM), which plans to redevelop it into Masjid Khadijah, a mosque and Islamic centre.

Council Says Decision Was Legal

Appearing for Peterborough City Council, barrister Catherine Rowlands told the High Court that the authority’s decision was driven by financial and legal considerations and was not discriminatory.

“The fact that the Hindu community would lose the only temple they have within a 35-mile radius does not make the decision unlawful," she argued.

Rowlands said public bodies are required to consider the impact of decisions on protected groups, including religious communities, but are not obligated to make decisions solely on that basis.

“Protected characteristics need to be taken into consideration when reaching a decision, but do not dictate a decision," she told the court. The council also maintained that the Hindu community’s tenancy rights would remain protected until redevelopment begins.

A Decade-Long Bid Ends In Defeat

The dispute has been particularly painful for Bharat Hindu Samaj because the organisation had spent years trying to purchase the building it currently occupies. According to court submissions, BHS had been negotiating with the council for roughly a decade to acquire the site.

However, when bids were invited, UKIM offered £1.4 million (around ₹18 crore) and provided evidence of access to more than £5 million in funds. Bharat Hindu Samaj offered £900,000 plus an additional social-value package linked to its community activities.

The council ultimately selected the higher bid.

“Peterborough council is hard up. We need the money," Rowlands told the court, underlining the financial pressures influencing the decision.

Hindu Group Seeks Judicial Review

Bharat Hindu Samaj is seeking a judicial review of the council’s decision and wants the court to overturn the sale. The organisation argues that the loss of the temple would leave thousands of Hindus in the region without a dedicated place of worship and community gathering space.

News world 'Not Unlawful': UK Council Defends Sale Of Temple Site To Muslim Group For Mosque

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