Mosaic Jewish Community, who has been searching for a new home for several years to serve its members into the future, has found a site on the Bushey side of Stanmore (subject to planning).

Currently based in Harrow, Mosaic serves the Jewish Community from Harrow to Hertsmere and Bushey to Brent, bringing three constituent synagogues together – Mosaic Liberal (formerly Harrow and Wembley Progressive), Mosaic Masorti (formerly Hatch End Masorti), and Mosaic Reform (formerly Middlesex New) – into one pluralist community.

The group’s potential new home is 65 Stanmore Hill, currently a petrol station on the main through route between Stanmore and Bushey, owned by leading North London developers Heronslea Group. Planning applications are being submitted for the petrol station to become a synagogue community centre on the ground floor and nine new homes above, and for Mosaic’s current home on Bessborough Road in Harrow to be turned into residential use – a new development of 40 homes, all to be developed by Heronslea Group.

Rabbi Kathleen Middleton of Mosaic Reform synagogue comments: “Mosaic brought together three synagogues from different denominations to create a pluralist community.  Serving three synagogues on a site that is not central for our members has been challenging for everyone involved, with accessibility being an issue. We need a new, purpose built synagogue in the heart of our community.”  

Mosaic’s new home, if approved, is being developed in partnership with award-winning developers Heronslea Group with several current developments in Stanmore and Bushey.  Run by a Jewish board of directors, the group understands the needs of the Jewish community. Jason Rishover, CEO, Heronslea Group continues: “This is a project very close to our hearts, and we are delighted to be able to help Mosaic, its members and the wider Jewish Community.”

The potential new site on Stanmore Hill meets a number of requirements for Mosaic.  It is accessible for members, with good transport links, and has more parking options in Stanmore Centre.

Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue comments:  “Our new home, if approved, will enable us to offer new Jewish choices to the unaffiliated and unengaged nearby, while continuing to provide a vibrant community for our existing members.”

The planning process has commenced with development partners Heronslea Group submitting applications for both the new Stanmore site and re-development of Bessborough Road. There has been a series of positive meetings on both schemes with the Harrow senior planning team and Councillors.

On Thursday 27th September a public exhibition was held at the Bernays Memorial Hall in central Stanmore to present the proposed synagogue and residential scheme.  The event was well attended by the community including local residents, representatives of the Stanmore Society, as well as several Harrow councillors, and the proposed designs were overwhelmingly supported. For further information visit www.choosemosaic.org and www.heronslea.net.