The billionaire Issa Brothers have rejected pleas to build a nature reserve on land they want for Britain's biggest Muslim cemetery.

Mega rich siblings Zuber and Mohsin Issa snubbed the move just weeks after confirming they will reapply to build a 45-acre Memorial Garden after it has twice been rejected by planners.

The former co-owners of ASDA withdrew the controversial cemetery plans for a second time in October after planning officials' recommended its refusal.

And they have further doubled down on their decision to continue to push for it by dismissing a proposed new use for the greenbelt land in Oswaldtwistle, near Blackburn, Lancs.

Oswaldtwistle Councillor Zak Khan and community activist Vinette Davitt sent a letter to the brother's charity arm, Issa Foundation, suggesting the land could be used as a nature reserve.

They pledged to create a "network of enhanced habitats and attractive landscapes" and "deliver strong ecological value while improving public access and opportunities for education, health, and wellbeing"."

It included installing native trees and hedgerows, open water sources, ponds, and ditches, open grazing meadows, classrooms, and public footpaths.

Under the model, they said the Issa Foundation would "oversee the creation and long-term management of the site, ensuring that it serves both environmental and community objectives"

They also said it would be a "tangible contribution to education, health, and employment for disadvantaged communities, which we believe would accord extremely well with the primary objectives of the Foundation"."

But yesterday the Issa Foundation turned down the idea saying "whilst we respect and appreciate the suggestion, we remain committed to exploring a cemetery provision"."

A spokesperson for the charity said: "We acknowledge Councillor Khan's correspondence proposing a nature reserve at Blackburn Road, Accrington."

"For clarity, across all the cemetery schemes submitted for consultation, we have consistently prioritised high-quality landscaping, respecting public access, and celebrating the natural character of Oswaldtwistle and the surrounding area."

"We remain of the view that our proposal respectfully protects the land from built development while equally offering environmental and community benefits."

"In the meantime, until a scheme with broad stakeholder support can be progressed, we will continue to farm the land and proactively maintain the site."

Two months ago officials planned to refuse the cemetery saying it would have a 'harmful effect on appearance of the area'.

The proposal would have seen 12,250 burial plots, a funeral parlour, and a prayer hall on land close to the village which has a population of just 10,815.

The plans were met with fierce opposition from locals and councillors alike.

An original application submitted in October 2021 for an 84 acre site with 35,000 plots had also previously been withdrawn after opposition.

The report put together by planning officers at Hyndburn Borough Council gave nine reasons for rejection of the latest plan including" inappropriate development"."

They also said it would cause "harm" to protected trees and would present an "unacceptable risk of pollution of groundwater"."

If the application was successful the cemetery would be bigger than Britain's current biggest Muslim cemetery, the Gardens of Peace in east London which has 10,000 plots on 21.5 acres.

Thousands of residents also objected to the new scaled-back plans which the brothers revealed on November 5 2024.

In response to the Issa Foundation's decision Cllr Khan said: "Unfortunately, the Issa Foundation has responded in writing to reject the proposal at this time. "

"However, I have kept the proposal firmly on the table and made clear that, as a community, we cannot accept a cemetery application in any form."

"I remain hopeful that, with time, they will see that an approach similar to our proposal is the only positive way forward and we can mark an end to this whole dispute, so our community can move on positively. "

Conservative councillor Steve Smithson, 39, also is also disappointed by the decision.

He said:

"This was an opportunity for the Issa Foundation to create a new nature reserve that would protect the land from any further development while delivering both environmental and community benefits but they have rejected this proposal. "

"It is very disappointing that they have rejected this proposal but I am not surprised by this as they don't respect our community. "

"As a community we are against a cemetery of any size and no matter what happens in the future, we will continue to fight and protect our green belt in Oswaldtwistle."

It is unclear when the Issa Foundation will resubmit planning applications for the cemetery.

The brother's decision also comes at a time when the lack of Muslim burial spots in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire., has reached a "critical point" according to a councillor."

* Meanwhile in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, councillors have raised concerns over the lack of space for muslim burials.

Community Alliance representative Ammar Anwar said families face the "possibility" of having to bury their loved ones far outside of their own community. "

Council leader Carole Pattison said they are working alongside local communities to find ways to increase the space.