Construction work continued at Scientology’s UK headquarters over the bank holiday weekend despite concerns from local residents and the Church lacking the relevant planning permission.
The building work is underway in preparation for this year’s gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), the official membership body of the Church of Scientology. The event typically takes place in a mammoth 45,000 sq ft marquee built on the grounds of the Saint Hill compound near East Grinstead, and is often attended by celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Bart Simpson voice actor Nancy Cartwright.
However, last year Mid-Sussex District Council issued a Planning Contravention Notice for the unauthorised structure, ordering Scientology to apply for planning permission ahead of the 2025 event. Instead, the Church applied for a Lawful Development Certificate, arguing that the marquee had been in place for a period exceeding 10 years and as such, is exempt from planning enforcement. That argument didn’t fly and the application was rejected, with Council officers noting the building was temporary and has not been in use for more than a few months at a time.
Scientology have continued with their plans for their event regardless, with construction starting earlier in August. No application for planning permission has been submitted for the structure.
Last week, we reported that trackway and flooring had been laid in preparation for the marquee’s erection and over the weekend, heavy goods vehicles, machinery and construction workers were seen on site making significant headway in the building’s construction.
The site is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which means tighter restrictions are in force on any building works in order to protect natural habitats, wildlife and the local environment. For the majority of the year, the field is used as farmland but is now a mammoth construction site with metal girders, struts and other building materials stacked throughout the site.
Support beams have now been erected, which suggests preparations are being made for the erection of a large steel exterior frame, which is then clad with sheeting to protect the venue from the elements.
Scientology Business also received a video sent to parishioners, in which a Saint Hill staff member explains “we’re now putting the tent up for this [year’s event], again.” He continues, asking viewers to reserve the entire month of October in preparation for the event, although he stops short of announcing the actual date of the event.
The annual gathering places tremendous strain on local resources, with thousands of Scientologists driving from across Europe to hear reclusive leader Captain David Miscavige speak. During a recent failed bid to ban protesting outside the event, Mid-Sussex District Council noted the last minute nature of the event’s planning places an unnecessary burden on limited Council resources and emergency services.
Poor traffic management has also caused miles-long tailbacks on the surrounding roads, with local residents complaining in 2023 that the delays caused them to miss their flu and COVID vaccination appointments at the neighbouring leisure centre.
The Council urged Scientology to implement better traffic management and security plans in order to minimise disruption to the local community, only for the Church to then withdraw its application at the last minute.
Despite lacking the required planning permission for such a large structure, Scientology have continued with the construction of the mammoth marquee, suggesting a lack of due regard for local planning laws and the protected environment the site is situated in. Motion sensors have also been screwed into trees that border their property’s boundary line.
Although no date has been announced for this year’s event, the anniversary of the founding of the IAS falls on October 7th, with the three-day gathering usually taking place shortly afterwards. With planning applications usually taking 6-8 weeks to process, it is possible the Church are planning to submit a retrospective application, but may be prevented from doing so if the Council decide to take enforcement action beforehand.
