Residents crowd fund judicial review over controversial Chinese embassy planning application

The Chinese Government first applied for planning permission to build what would be Europe’s largest embassy in 2018.

If approved, the embassy would be situated on the historic Royal Mint complex, which was where the United Kingdom’s currency was produced until the mint moved to Wales in 1968.

The application is still awaiting a decision, having been refused twice by Tower Hamlets Council before being called in by the Secretary of State for Local Government in 2024.

The group behind the legal threat – named the Royal Mint Court Residents Association (RMCRA) – represents 100 leaseholders who live in apartments along Royal Mint Street, which neighbours the proposed embassy site.

The freehold for the apartments has been under the ownership of the Chinese Government since 2018, stoking fears among residents that they will be evicted once the planning application is approved.

The group said it is now launching an "urgent" legal challenge ahead of the Government making a final decision on the planning application.

Writing on its crowdfunding page, the RMCRA described the planning process surrounding the application as "flawed", arguing that ministers signalled early approval to the Chinese Government before formal procedures were followed.

It also argues that there are security concerns over building a "fortified embassy" nearby to "critical infrastructure".

This is in reference to the proximity of a telephone exchange, which carries sensitive communications to and from the City of London.

In addition, the group claims that residents were "shut out of the process", with "no consultation" taking place.

The crowdfunding campaign has raised more than £29,000 at the time of writing.

Secretary of State Steve Reed was given until 10 December to make a decision on the application, but the deadline was recently pushed back again to 20 January.

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey