The UK High Court has rejected a legal challenge against the construction of a large Chinese embassy near the Tower of London, upholding previous planning permission decisions.
Campaigners from the Royal Mint Court Residents' Association (RMCRA), representing approximately 100 local properties, had raised concerns that the new embassy site at the former Royal Mint could pose an espionage threat and be used to enforce Chinese laws within the UK, potentially targeting dissidents. The association also voiced worries about fire safety risks, citing diplomatic immunity as a barrier to enforcing safety obligations.
Government bodies, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, defended the planning approval, stating they had carefully considered the residents' concerns. In a High Court hearing earlier this month, two judges ultimately dismissed the RMCRA's challenge.
Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting with Lord Justice Dingemans, stated that there was no doubt the government had taken into account that the application was from the Chinese government. The judges also ruled that the RMCRA was not disadvantaged by not having received a copy of a "blast assessment" report, which detailed the potential impact of a terrorist explosion, at the time the planning decision was made. They concluded that the non-disclosure of these documents did not result in unfairness to the claimants.