Controversy surrounding plans to build Britain’s largest Muslim cemetery

A major real estate initiative is sparking debate in Blackburn, an industrial town in Lancashire located 50 kilometers north of Manchester, where entrepreneurs Mohsin and Zuber Issa are considering the creation of an 18-hectare faith-based funeral space. This project, led by the owners of the Asda group, aims to accommodate up to 35,000 burials according to Muslim rites.

The municipality must deal with significant local protest, materialized by more than 800 complaints. Opponents cite environmental concerns and potential saturation of existing road infrastructure.

The planned complex, representing an investment of several million euros, includes the construction of a ceremonial pavilion and a car park with 150 spaces. Its promoters highlight the need to respond to the specific needs of a growing Muslim community in the region.

The Issa brothers, who have become major figures in the British business world in recent years after their purchase of Asda and the development of EG Group, see this project as a response to local demographic challenges. Their entrepreneurial journey, which began with a simple service station in Blackburn, demonstrates their attachment to their hometown. Local authorities are expected to make their decision in the coming weeks, a decision which promises to be delicate in this town in the north-west of England.