UK court clears way for China’s controversial London super-embassy
Plans for a new Chinese super-embassy in London have been given the go-ahead after a High Court dismissed a challenge to its planning permission.
The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA) launched legal action against the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
It said the presence of the embassy, with a site earmarked near the Tower of London, could lead to terrorist attacks or the repression of protests, while being used to enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the UK and to target dissidents.
The association, which represents families and businesses in about 100 properties, was also concerned about the Chinese government creating a fire risk by ignoring safety obligations, which it said would not be enforceable because of diplomatic immunity.
The Government and the council defended the claim, saying they “conscientiously and carefully had regard” to the residents’ concerns.
Following a hearing at the High Court earlier this month, two judges dismissed RMCRA’s challenge.
They rejected RMCRA’s claim that the planning decision had been made unlawfully, that there was a failure to disclose a blast assessment and security statement, that the Government had not followed planning regulations and that it had not identified and assessed human rights.
Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting with Lord Justice Dingemans, said in a judgment on Friday there was “no doubt” that the Government took into account that it was the Chinese government applying for planning permission.
She also said that the RMCRA was not disadvantaged by not receiving a copy of a “blast assessment” at the time of the planning decision, which detailed the effect of a possible terrorist explosion.
The judge said: “There was no unfairness to the claimant by reason of these documents not having been disclosed.”
Local residents near the planned Chinese super embassy in London will seek to continue their legal battle against the complex.
The RMCRA have instructed their lawyers to apply for permission to appeal after their High Court challenge against a decision to grant planning permission was dismissed.
Dave Lake of the RMCRA said: “They might have the billions, but we are in for the long haul and will be seeking to win permission for an appeal.
“We live here. This is our home and a rubber-stamp decision doesn’t change the fact that a fortress doesn’t belong in our community.“If they think this is the end of the road, they’re going to discover that they are wrong. We fight on.”
Politics Editor
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