The Church of Scientology have formally amended a planning application submitted in September to include the redevelopment of 5 hectares of land and installation of three structures spanning 80,730sq ft at their UK headquarters near East Grinstead.
The application initially sought permission to turn a field into a giant car park and to install permanent infrastructure to support the annual erection of several temporary event structures, but fell short of asking for permission to erect the structures themselves. East Grinstead Town Council, West Sussex County Council’s flood department and the Mid-Sussex District Council Conservation Officer shot down the proposals along with a number of disgruntled local residents who expressed dismay at the impact the major development would have on the surrounding countryside.
Scientology have now amended their application to include permission for the temporary structures. The original request was for:
Planning application filed by Scientology, September 2025
- Hard paved car park with 121 spaces and toilet facilities adjacent to Saint Hill Road,
- Hard paved access road servicing both Juhring and Hobbs fields,
- Engineered grass surfaced provision of 619 spaces for temporary parking for specific events in Juhring field,
- Re-contouring of Hobbs field with grassed surface and provision of permanent pads for the marquee together with washroom facilities and substation with backup generator.
This has subsequently been updated, with the new application describing the proposal as follows:
Change of use of vacant land to event area with erection of permanent infrastructure to facilitate the erection of annual temporary marquee structures, including ground level alterations, wash block with toilets, generator enclosure, concrete ring and platforms together with the erection and dismantling of the temporary marquee structures themselves, and overflow carparking for the Church and neighbouring sports clubs consisting of hard paved surfacing for 113 car spaces plus 6 disabled and reinforced ground surfacing to facilitate the erection of the marquee structures, construction of a new access and internal road, waiting area with structure, sustainable surface water and foul drainage provision, external lighting, associated landscaping and ecological enhancements.
Amended planning application submitted December 2025
The plans centre around the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), an event hosted by reclusive leader David Miscavige at the former home of founder L. Ron Hubbard. The gathering takes place across a weekend in October and attracts thousands of parishioners from across the world and is often described as “the greatest gathering of Scientologists” in church propaganda. Earlier this year locals complained about the “chaos” and “disruption” the event causes and took issue with Tom Cruise’s arrival by helicopter as a major contributing factor.
Hubbard acquired the Grade-II listed Saint Hill Manor in 1959, which subsequently became Scientology’s worldwide headquarters until he left the country after being designated an “undesirable alien” by the UK government in 1969. Since then, it has continued to serve as a major management outpost for the Church.
The site is located in a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the scale of the proposals mean it is designated as a ‘major development’. Mid-Sussex District Council’s AONB Strategy Plan states “There is a presumption that planning permission should be refused for major development in AONBs other than in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest.”
Last year, the Council served Scientology a Planning Contravention Notice for the unauthorised construction of three large marquees used to host the event, and an application for a Lawful Development Certificate was rejected earlier this year.
The marquees span a total of 80,730 square feet and consist of three separate structures, one for hosting the event itself, a ‘Seminar Tent’ and a catering/back of house preparation area. Aerial photographs sent in to Scientology Business by a local resident detail extensive damage to the land caused by the unauthorised construction and dismantling of the structures following the 2025 event.
Scientology is also seeking permission to build a giant new car park with spaces for almost a thousand cars, despite the event taking place just once a year. The total development spans 5.07 hectares (12.5 acres).
In October, we shared some of the comments submitted by angry local residents in response to the development. They cite environmental concerns, light pollution and widespread disruption caused by the event and suggest an alternative, existing venue would be more appropriate for Scientology’s annual gathering.
A Mid-Sussex District Council Planning Officer told Scientology Business “The applicant is in the process of providing additional information which is being uploaded to the council web site before further consultation takes place. All parties who were consulted on the original application or have made comments will be reconsulted once the final information is uploaded.”
The planning application can be followed on the MSDC Planning Portal under reference number DM/25/2223.
There is speculation that all 'events' will eventually be transferred to the putative LRH hall in Clearwater. Dave is certainly fighting to gain control of a nearby road, so that Citizens can be excluded from that part of their own city, whenever he appears at one of these bunfights.
On the other hand, Dave also likes to spin the 'fundraising' for these projects out for decades, and raise more than they actually cost.
The effort he is putting into the Saint Hill application (which includes more sight-screening) suggests that he wants to hold the IAS there for some time yet. The question is, how long? Is it just a few years (and he doesn't like being denied his way), or will it be decades more, while the fundraising for LRH Hall is spun out?
As you keep saying, he could just hire a nearby secure and private venue and all his problems would evaporate. They could even arrange tours of 'The Home of Ron' and tell believers that they were abandoning the tent in order to be ecologically responsible.
We don't know what he's going to do, or why, and I don't think he does, either.
The plans to move events over to LRH Hall when it is complete in Florida only makes it harder for Scientology to demonstrate the necessity of this redevelopment project in the UK. I don't see how they can justify permanently damaging and altering countryside in a protected AONB for the purposes of a 3 day event that takes place once a year, if the intention is to eventually move the event elsewhere anyway.
Either, the plan is to keep the IAS event in the UK even after the opening of LRH Hall, or (more likely, in my opinion) OSA recognise the pressure they are under from the local authority and instead of moving the event elsewhere for a few years and claim it's due to 'expansion' / 'out-growing the tent', they'd rather fight til the bitter end to have it at Saint Hill.
Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to move the IAS event elsewhere as soon as their plans are given the green light just as a middle finger up at the Council. Thats if, of course, they get approval.. which is seeming more and more unlikely as time goes on.
It’s hard to make sense of the behaviour of an organisation with such resources when their motivation seems to be to demonstrate:
“you’re not the boss of me – I’ll do whatever I want” 🙂
It’s childish, really
I think the social system that Hubbard created (i.e. the doctrines and culture of Scientology) reproduces his malignant narcissism.
It behaves as he would, and he was a spoiled child.
Since I commented on the original sumission, I received official notice about this revision from the Mid Sussex Distric Council today requesting additional comments on the revision. Getting the fine tooth comb out to go through the revised docs over the weekend.
I’m glad the Council are keeping to their commitment to contact those who submitted representations the first time around!
Me too. I was going to anyway, but I was happy to see the offical notification. It means everybody who had something relevant, as opposed to 'they are nice people', to say about the original plan gets a second shot at it.
If Scientology got this proposal approved by the Council, I wouldn't put it past them to go way beyond the scope of this. If you get approved to plant 35 trees like Scientology was, and then plant 105 trees along the roadway, then you aren't operating in good faith. And that part where it says, "re-contouring of Hobbs field" sounds frightening. I can't imagine Scientology being cut loose on that land.
Very valid points, Phil. They have a demonstrated track record of exceeding the limits of any permissions granted to them by the local authority and, for example, although the new proposals include a ‘buffer zone’ around the ancient woodland in the area to protect its heritage, there’s nothing to stop them ignoring this and completely destroying the whole thing. It’s worrying, and I do hope elected officials and residents alike voice their concerns once again now that the amended proposals are back up for public consultation.
Yes. Do the crime. Pay the fine (out of petty cash) and move on.
A supermarket near me illegally cut down a protected mature oak, because the building they wanted to put on the land it occupied was worth far more to them than the fine.
Even 'respectable' businesses can be that cynical.