Peterborough: A High Court judge has granted temporary relief to a Hindu Mandir in Peterborough, preventing the sale of the building it occupies to a mosque while a legal challenge is underway.
The Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir (BHS), which serves nearly 18,000 Hindus in Peterborough and nearby counties, has operated from the New England Complex since 1986. The Mandir was founded by Ugandan Hindu refugees and functions not only as a place of worship but also as a community centre offering elderly luncheon clubs, a dementia support centre, yoga sessions and Indian language classes.Judicial Intervention
Halts sale amid legal challenge
The dispute began after Peterborough City Council decided to sell the New England Complex. In October 2025, the Mandir submitted a £1.4 million bid to purchase the property and was one of two bidders. However, in December, the council cabinet chose to sell the site to another bidder. Although the identity was not publicly disclosed, the mandir later learned through its solicitors that the preferred buyer was a mosque linked to the Masjid Khadijah and Islamic Centre of Khadijah in Peterborough.
Concerned about the decision-making process, the Mandir initiated a judicial review in the High Court of Justice (England and Wales). On February 27, Justice David Fordham issued an interim injunction directing the council not to take any “irreversible step” regarding the property, noting that there appeared to be a “strong prima facie case” for granting temporary relief. A further court order is expected after March 5.
Mandir vice-president Ekta Patel welcomed the ruling, saying the injunction recognises the seriousness of the matter and emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in the council’s decision. Mandir president Kishor Ladwa also expressed relief, noting that the mandir has received support from Hindu organisations and individuals across the UK.
Meanwhile, Conservative peer Rami Ranger has written to UK communities secretary Steve Reed, urging the government to intervene and overturn the council’s decision.
The council stated it is aware of the legal proceedings and will engage in the judicial process. Officials added that the property is not being sold with vacant possession and that tenants would remain in place. However, mandir representatives say such assurances do not guarantee long-term security, as future owners could alter tenancy terms or eventually require the mandir to vacate.
Community concerns and spiritual significance of the Mandir
Mandir trustees say the uncertainty has deeply affected the community. Trustee Gauri Chaudhary said members were shocked when the council rejected their bid, recalling elderly devotees crying in the Mandir and children asking where they would celebrate festivals if the mandir were forced to move. She noted that relocating consecrated idols is extremely rare and something devotees would try to avoid.
For more than 15 years, the Mandir has occupied the premises rent-free while negotiating with the council about purchasing the site, at one point discussing a symbolic £1 sale. However, that offer was withdrawn in August 2024 after the council received an unsolicited £1.2 million bid. The mandir later bid £1.3 million after advice from council officials, but says it never received a response.
Following a change in the council’s administration in May 2025, a newly established property board decided the site should be sold through open tender instead. The Mandir was given just one month to prepare its bid.
Councillor Roger Antunes, who supported a review of the decision, criticised the process, arguing that the mandir’s 40-year presence at the site should have qualified it for special consideration.
Mandir pujari Dharmesh Pandaya emphasised the spiritual significance of the site, stating that after the sacred Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the Mandir became a living spiritual presence for devotees and should not be treated merely as a property asset.
Peterborough currently has two gurdwaras, nine mosques, 84 churches and only one Hindu Mandir. Hindu groups say losing the site would be a major blow to the local community. The Hindu Council UK compared the situation to the long struggle over the Ram Mandir, stressing that for any faith community, control over its consecrated place of worship is fundamental.
Mandir trustees say they will continue pursuing all lawful avenues to protect the site and ensure the community’s right to worship remains secure.
