Major Construction Spree

The Exclusive Plymouth Brethren, a secretive religious sect, is behind a surge in land development across the UK, prompting numerous planning applications for large meeting rooms and private shops. Despite their small UK population of 18,000, comparable to towns like Penicuik or Porthcawl, the Brethren's expansionist activities have sparked significant local opposition.

Over the past 18 months, the group has submitted 16 applications for new meeting rooms, designed to hold between 50 and 2,000 people. These projects are complemented by plans for exclusive Campus & Co. shops, raising concerns about their true intentions and rapid development pace. The group's claims of membership growth appear exaggerated, as the community has only grown by 9% in the last nine years.

Key Developments

1. Lichfield: A proposed meeting room for 800-1,000 people met with local resistance, prompting the Brethren to create a consultation website.
2. Bournemouth: Plans for a care home and meeting room were rejected due to strong opposition.
3. Aberdeen: A new meeting room in Ellon was approved despite being 10 miles from the main Brethren community.
4. Shrewsbury: A bowling green will be replaced by a meeting room, car park, and house, despite local protests.
5. Rainham: An application to convert a meeting room into 22 homes cites exaggerated congregation growth.
6. Hull: A small meeting room in South Cave was approved despite accessibility concerns.
7. Middlesbrough: A residential property conversion into a meeting room received mixed community reactions.
8. Romsey: A bungalow was converted into a meeting room despite neighborly objections.
9. Thornbury: A new meeting room near an existing one raised questions about media scrutiny and council connections.
10. Sutton Coldfield: An application for a new meeting room was withdrawn due to location issues and other developments.
11. Chesterfield: A car park extension for a meeting room was approved, despite overstated local Brethren population figures.
12. Newtown: A new access road built over graves caused family distress.
13. Swindon: A new meeting room application on a greenfield site was refused for size discrepancies.
14. Sevenoaks: A meeting room on an old Mission Church site was approved with significant property donations.
15. Coventry: A new meeting room application in Bubbenhall was withdrawn due to objections and existing facilities.
16. Cambridge: A former pub was converted into a meeting room despite local objections.​​

​Wider Implications

​The Brethren's expansion includes private shop developments and major personal property projects by individual members, often involving extensive rebuilding. This investigation highlights potential flaws in the UK's planning process and the Brethren's adeptness at navigating these systems to further their interests, raising alarms about the group's unchecked growth and influence.

Read the full story of the incredible meeting room constructions blitz   here....

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