By Becky Procter

A STRUCTUAL engineer has been called in to ensure land in Smallwood, earmarked for the creation of a £1.5 million mosque, can actually support the proposed building.

It is just over a week before the final planning application for the uniquely designed mosque is submitted by Redditch Central Mosque Trust.

Redditch Council officers will put the plans out for public consultation during September and a final decision is expected to be made by planning chiefs at the end of October.

Trust secretary Fakral Hussain said: "The structural engineer will look at all the proposed steel work, the foundation and designs and investigate the ground where the mosque will be built.

"It is no good buying the land before we find out if the land can actually carry the building."

Several thousand pounds more than the £300,000 target to buy the land has now been met entirely from donations from the Muslim community in Redditch.

And the structural engineer's report will be concluded before the land is finally bought by the trust.

The mosque, which will feature blue glass and a stainless steel minaret, will hold 1,500 people and, for the first time in Redditch, Muslims will have proper funeral facilities.

Mr Hussain said: "We have provided planning officers with samples of materials we are using and we have tried to buy as much as we can locally."

Building work is expected to start early next year.