Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council announced at the Eid in the Park celebration today in Borehamwood that the council has completed the transfer of the former Guide Hut site adjacent to Maxwell Park, Borehamwood, granting a new 999 year lease to the Trustees of the Elstree and Borehamwood Islamic Community (EBIC).
The council has agreed terms that will enable the delivery of a high-quality, purpose-built mosque alongside flexible community facilities in the heart of the town centre.
The decision to grant a long lease reflects the council’s commitment to securing best value while also recognising the significant social value of the project. Trustees have demonstrated a clear intention to invest in the site and establish a long-term presence in Borehamwood, supporting both community infrastructure and inclusive growth.
The development will provide the first purpose-built mosque in the borough, meeting the needs of Borehamwood’s growing Muslim community while also creating a space that can be used more widely for community activities, events and engagement.
Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council addressed the crowd in Maxwell Park saying :
“Eid Mubarak.
“It is a privilege and a genuine honour to stand with you today as you mark this most sacred festival — a day of sacrifice, of gratitude, and of community.
“Eid al-Adha asks us what we are willing to give. Today, I hope to show you what this Council is willing to give back.
“Today — on this day of all days — I have an announcement that I believe marks a turning point for this community, and for Hertsmere as a whole. I am delighted to tell you that Hertsmere Borough Council has exchanged contracts with the trustees of the Borehamwood Islamic Society.
“That exchange of contracts secures the land and the legal framework for the building of the first purpose-built mosque and Islamic community centre this area has ever had.
“For too long, this community has worshipped in spaces borrowed from others. Today, we lay the foundations — legally and literally — for a space that is yours.
“A purpose-built mosque isn’t just a building. It is a statement. And the statement is this: you are permanent, you are valued, and you are home.
“The contribution of Borehamwood’s Muslim community — to its schools, its food banks, its high street, its civic life — is immeasurable. Your generosity during Ramadan, your welcome to neighbours in need, your young people stepping forward in public life: these things make Hertsmere stronger, richer, and better.
“This community doesn’t just live in Hertsmere. This community builds Hertsmere.
“You have never waited to be invited to contribute. You simply got on and contributed. That is citizenship at its best.
“On behalf of Hertsmere Borough Council, I wish every one of you and your families a blessed and joyful Eid. May this festival of sacrifice bring you peace. May this announcement bring you hope.
“Eid Mubarak — and welcome to the next chapter.”
The site has been used for worship and community purposes by EBIC for several years under a shorter commercial lease arrangement. This agreement secures a permanent future for the site and enables substantial investment in a modern, fit for purpose building. expected to support a range of uses beyond worship, including community events, interfaith activity and local engagement, helping to strengthen connections across Borehamwood’s diverse communities.