In a bold move, opponents of a massive new Chinese embassy planned for a site near the Tower of London have announced they will soon launch a judicial review in a bid to block the project. The government’s approval of China’s proposal to redevelop the former Royal Mint site into a sprawling 215,300 sq ft (20,000 sq m) UK headquarters has faced staunch resistance from politicians, campaigners, and local residents.
Approximately 200 people currently live in the Royal Mint Court complex on the site, many of whom fear a loss of privacy, disruption from protests, and potential eviction. The residents’ association has already raised the £145,000 needed to fund their legal challenge, a significant increase from the £35,000 they had just 12 hours earlier.
“We are humbled that so many of those persecuted by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), together with ordinary Brits up and down the country, have placed their faith in us, and stood by residents,” said Mark Nygate, a Royal Mint Court resident and the group’s treasurer. “We won’t waste a single penny in ensuring that this embassy plan crashes on the solid rock of our judicial system.”
The residents’ campaign has the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group established to hold China accountable on democracy and human rights issues. Luke de Pulford from IPAC said, “The blistering speed with which this crowdfunder has reached its target is a clear indication of the sheer unpopularity of this mega-embassy. It remains to be seen if the world’s second superpower is a match for UK planning law.”
The Chinese government purchased the Royal Mint site in 2018 for £255m, with the aim of building a new UK headquarters. The plans were initially rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over safety concerns, but when China resubmitted the application in 2024, the government took over the decision-making process.
Opponents have warned that the proposed embassy, which would be the largest of its kind in Europe, could serve as a base for espionage and pose a security risk due to its proximity to the financial district and sensitive fibre optic cables. However, the government has stated that no bodies responsible for national security, including the Home Office and Foreign Office, have raised concerns or objected to the proposal on the basis of the cable proximity.
As the battle over the Chinese embassy continues, residents and campaigners are determined to use every legal avenue to prevent the project from moving forward. The outcome of this high-stakes confrontation will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the UK’s relationship with China and the protection of local communities.
