A High Court challenge against the construction of a Chinese mega embassy in London has failed.
The decision to uphold planning permission for the site on the old Royal Mint, near the Tower of London, has dismayed campaigners from the Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA), which represents families and businesses in about 100 properties.
The RMCRA fear the site poses an espionage threat and will be used to enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the UK and to target dissidents.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets defended the claim, saying they “conscientiously and carefully had regard” to the residents’ concerns.
The residents’ association 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.
China’s embassy in London welcomed the judgement, telling the BBC that “providing support and facilitation for the construction of diplomatic premises is an international obligation of the host country”.
The embassy spokesperson added that “the planning and design proposal for the new premises of the Chinese Embassy in the UK is of high-quality, and the application and approval processes fully adhered to international practices as well as local regulations and procedures”.
A High Court hearing was held earlier this month and two judges have now dismissed RMCRA’s challenge.
Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting with Lord Justice Dingemans, said 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.”
Speaking outside Parliament, Luke de Pulford of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), who has been supporting the RMCRA, confirmed solicitors had been instructed to appeal against the High Court ruling, funded by donations from the public.
RMCRA spokesman Mark Nygate said residents believed this was only an early skirmish in the battle against the mega embassy.
“We knew this was going to be a long haul and we intend to go all the way… as far as the Supreme Court,” he said.
“This is a huge case with consequences that go far beyond planning law, far beyond the residents, far from the local community – this is about our country.”
