In a landmark decision, Muslim billionaire and prominent real estate mogul Asif Aziz has secured approval to transform the iconic Trocadero in central London into a mosque. This follows his withdrawn application for a 1,000-person capacity mosque amidst local disapproval.

Asif Aziz, 56, revered as "Mr. West End" due to his extensive property holdings in the area, is slated to revamp the Trocadero, according to a report from the Mail on Sunday. The approved blueprint is for a three-storey mosque capable of accommodating 390 worshippers. The new worship space is anticipated to bear the name 'Piccadilly Prayer Space' and could open its doors within the coming months.

The planning committee of Westminster Council confirmed the decision, with a spokesperson stating, “A planning application by the Aziz Foundation to convert a part of the London Trocadero was approved in May 2023.”

The Trocadero, nestled between Piccadilly Circus and Soho, debuted in 1896 as an upscale restaurant. However, its doors were shuttered in 1965, only to be reopened in 1984 as a hub for exhibitions and entertainment, buoyed by sponsorship from Sega. The building was downsized in 2011, and a section was resurrected as a hotel in 2020.

Aziz, the CEO and founder of property group Criterion Caption, acquired the Trocadero in 2005 for a sum exceeding £220 million. It is understood that the mosque project will be financed through his philanthropic organization, the Aziz Foundation.

The Aziz Foundation asserts that the mosque is intended to serve the spiritual needs of Muslims employed in the vicinity and those visiting London as tourists. The foundation's initiative signifies a momentous development in London's multicultural fabric, while underlining Mr. Aziz's profound influence in the West End and beyond.