The Havering Borough in London has rejected plans by the Nigerian-born head of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, to build a £70m (N16bn) 8,000-seat church in the city.

The church has, however, described the borough’s rejection of its project at Beam Reach, London as “shocking.” The church said the decision was a reflection of the hostile reception meted to its officials at a meeting with the borough on January 15, 2008.

A report in http://www.propertyweek.com had stated that the council said the project at Waterden Road in Hackney was in conflict with the area’s Urban Development Plan and London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s plan for the British capital. Besides, the borough raised objections because it believed that citing a church in an area, earlier earmarked for industrial and business purposes, was of “no benefit to the local community.” Also, the borough said the project, which would take five years to complete, would cause transport problems because of difficulties with access.

The KICC, which is currently based in Hoe Street in Walthamstow, and the London Development Agency had put forward the Beam Reach Planning Application U0006.07 for a mixed-use auditorium and community complex at Beam Reach in July 2007. The 8,000-seater church is expected to include a 1,000-seat children and youth education and sports facility, offices and counselling rooms and a multi-storey car park.

The report said the project was proposed after the church was paid £13.5m by the LDA to move from its previous headquarters to make way for a site being developed for the 2012 London Olympic game. It added that the scheme could still proceed when it goes before the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Reacting to the development in an email to our correspondent on Friday, the church said in a statement by its CEO, Pastor Dapo Oluyomi, that, “Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is shocked at the comments made at the meeting on 15th January, 2008. The Regulatory Services Committee of the London Borough of Havering raised objections to its application to build a church and community complex on land at Beam Reach. KICC has spent £1.8 million on architects, town planning consultants and other necessary professional planning consultants, to ensure the community complex and church building will be built to benefit the local community and meet all the required rules and regulations.”

The church said it vacated its previous site at Waterden Road in Hackney last September following its refusal to fund an Olympic arena and estimated that its “landmark development” would generate £5m business each year for local firms while its annual conference would attract a further £2m business for local firms such as shops, hotels, restaurants and taxis. It said its facilities were planned to “provide the church with a permanent home as well as a chance to contribute to the local community through significant direct and indirect employment, investment in local businesses and support for local causes.”

Besides, it stated that public backing for the application came in the form of a 6,904 signature petition, which was submitted to the London Borough of Havering, together with more than 1,300 individually written letters of support.

The church debunked fears that the projects would cause traffic problems, adding that it regretted “the one-sided approach of the councillors and the planning officers, the unfriendly banter of the other side and the very fact that it was not a debate as advertised but an orchestrated, one sided event. The whole approach to the meeting was rather uninviting right from the blocking of the entrance to the hall by the Adamsgate group and the booing and clapping.

“What happened was unfair and not expected of people who are genuinely after the progress of the community.”

The KICC said it would wait for the final determination of its application by the LTGDC on February 14, where the submissions of the church and the borough will be considered.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2008020111363168

Recently, the it was annouced that the Rccg had a N7.7bn church auditorium and now, a big one from KICC, lets have some comparison here in the house.

God makes a way where there is no way.

Behold the Laodeacian church age.