The Church of Scientology’s application for the construction of a new mega car park and event facilities at their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex have been recommended for approval by Mid-Sussex District Council despite concerns from residents and environmentalists.
The project, which will see more than half a million square feet (5.07 hectares) of protected countryside land within an Area of Outstanding Beauty converted into event facilities, has been the centre of almost 11 months of controversy within the rural Sussex community. Essentially, Scientology are seeking permission to build a giant new car park on the site of their existing UK headquarters, as well as permanent features such as a toilet block, generator facility and concrete pads to facilitate the annual erection of three mammoth marquees used as a venue for the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS).
The event takes place over a three-day weekend once a year, of which only the Sunday evening is open to the public. However, according to Scientology the event contributes more to the UK economy than the Eurovision Song Contest.
Now, ahead of the Planning Committee voting on the application next week, Mid-Sussex District Council officers have produced a report recommending approval despite concerns around the event’s impact on the community and the proposed development’s impact on the environment.
In its report, the Council notes “While the proposal is not related to the purposes of agriculture, the intended use does support extended cultural/community activities associated with the permitted religious use of Saint Hill Manor,” despite lawyers for the Church arguing at a Premises Licence review hearing earlier this year that the IAS event does not involve any acts of worship and is, in fact, a fundraising event for their membership body.
The report does, however, admit that Scientology’s proposals “will result in harm” to the locality, and warns “while there is no objection in principle to the proposals, should it be found that it fails to maintain, or enhance, the quality of the rural landscape then the proposal would be contrary to policy DP12” of the Mid-Sussex District Plan.
It continues, “there are a number of designated and non-designated heritage assets that have been identified in the vicinity of the site, whose settings would be adversely impacted as a result of the proposal.”
Elected officials are set to vote on the proposal next Thursday. You can read the Council’s report below:
One response
Considering certain people who should have, did not recuse themselves from the decision, I'm not totally surprised. Hopefully the elected official will pay more attention to their constituents than $cientology.