A legal attempt to block the construction of a large Chinese embassy in London has been rejected by the High Court. The facility is planned for the former Royal Mint site located near the Tower of London.
Local residents, organized as the Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association, had petitioned against the project. They expressed concerns regarding potential espionage, the targeting of dissidents, and the possibility that Chinese officials might bypass safety regulations under the protection of diplomatic immunity. The group represents roughly 100 nearby properties.
Both the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the local council in Tower Hamlets argued that they had thoroughly considered community objections before granting approval. During the proceedings, Mrs Justice Lieven and Lord Justice Dingemans found that the government had properly acknowledged the nature of the applicant. The judges also ruled that the residents were not unfairly impacted by the omission of a blast assessment report during the initial planning phase.
The Residents’ Association has stated its intention to appeal the court’s decision.
