The Church of Scientology have sought support from a number of local sports groups that neighbour their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex after submitting plans for a major redevelopment of its Saint Hill compound.
The plans, submitted last week despite construction starting over a month ago, ask for approval for the creation of a huge car park and infrastructure to support the annual erection of a 45,000 marquee to host the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS). The event is often attended by celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Jenna Elfman and is expected to take place next month, with reclusive leader David Miscavige at the helm.
The proposed developments include what would become the largest car park in East Grinstead, and documents attached to the planning application show Mid-Sussex District Council have reservations about such a large development taking place in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In their planning statement, Scientology architects Carnegie explain:
“The proposal is considered a significant development within the AONB, requiring exceptional justification and public interest under national planning policy. Officers strongly recommend engaging landscape and heritage consultants to develop a sensitive, landscape-led scheme supported by a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) and a detailed Heritage Statement.”
“Overall, the development represents exceptional circumstances where the public interest, operational need, and community benefit outweigh any limited harm to heritage or landscape character. It is a policy-compliant, technically robust, and socially valuable scheme, and is therefore respectfully commended to the Council for approval.”
However, little evidence of public support for the development has been included with the application. Letters of support from the neighbouring East Grinstead Sports Club, Rugby Club and a football club over two miles away were provided, along with a letter from one of the many Scientologist residents who live at Rockwood Park on Saint Hill Road. However, with the event often causing severe traffic disruption to the local area due to the thousands of parishioners who travel to the countryside compound for the occasion, it is unclear whether Scientology have fulfilled the “public interest” requirement for building in a protected, rural area.
The local Sports and Rugby Clubs were also awarded £50,000 donations at last year’s event, suggesting a conflict of interest may have swayed their support of the project.
You can read the supporting statements below:
