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Council opposes Chinese embassy by Tower of London

Google Royal Mint Court exterior with two trees and black railing either side of a main entrance with a black door beneath the words 'Royal Mint Court'Google
China bought Royal Mint Court six years ago and wants to build the largest embassy in Britain

Plans for a new Chinese embassy opposite the Tower of London have been opposed by the local council.

Tower Hamlets councillors voted unanimously to reject the scheme at Royal Mint Court, arguing it could present a security risk due to the size of the protests it could attract.

The council's verdict is advisory, not binding, as the power to formally approve or reject the proposal has been taken out of their hands by the government.

Deputy prime minister and communities secretary Angela Rayner will decide whether to grant permission or not, following a planning inspectorate hearing in the new year.

'Serious and significant effect'

Counter-terrorism officers in the Metropolitan Police also objected to the plans, saying the embassy would cover "a substantial footprint" impacting the immediate vicinity and potentially attracting significant protest activity.

Speaking at Monday's meeting, Met Police chief inspector Dave Hodges said: "In the event that more than a relatively small number of protesters attend the location, they will highly likely spill into the road.

"This iconic junction of Tower Hill and Tower Bridge Road has over 50,000 vehicle movements per day and is of critical importance to the Tower Bridge river crossing.

"It is a major arterial junction, where any demonstration would have a serious and significant effect to not only the local area, but also wider London."

China bought Royal Mint Court six years ago - but has so far failed to get permission to build a new embassy on the site.

If it gets the go-ahead, it is thought it would be the largest embassy in Britain and would be China's largest diplomatic mission in Europe.

Similar plans were rejected on similar grounds by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy last month told the Times newspaper the submitted planning "has taken into full consideration the UK's planning policy and guidance as well as opinions of all relevant parties".

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