Residents launch fundraiser for legal costs against Chinese embassy

East London residents who are against plans to build a Chinese embassy site near to their homes are hoping to raise several thousands of pounds in legal fees ahead of next year’s public inquiry.

The Royal Mint Court Residents Association has set up a fundraiser page to raise £30,000 in legal costs in what residents say ‘is also a matter of national interest’.

An appointed Inspector is set to open a public inquiry in February 2025, where representations that are both for and against the plans will be heard.

Following the inquiry, deputy prime minister and housing minister, Angela Rayner will ultimately decide whether to approve the plans or not after she called-in the application in October 2024.

Residents living on the Royal Mint Court Estate are concerned their views will be ‘screened out’ if they don’t secure legal representation, and are hoping they can raise the money by the beginning of February.

Royal Mint Court RA wrote on Crowdfunder: “We successfully, and with the help of three other local groups, and councillors, defeated [the Chinese government’s] planning application in 2022.

“The planning authority agreed with our safety fears and concerns and also the impact a Chinese Embassy would have on the Tower of London world heritage site and the disruption to a main arterial traffic route through London.

“The Chinese Government have now made a second application, that’s why we need to fight this again, and need legal help.”

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy previously said the resubmitted planning application was of a “high-quality development scheme” and “has taken into full consideration the UK’s planning policy and guidance as well as opinions of all relevant parties”.

During an extraordinary planning meeting with Tower Hamlets Council earlier this month (December 9), Barnaby Collins from planning consultancy, DP9, which is representing the embassy, said the previous decision was never appealed because there was a ‘principle desire’ for the decision to be made locally.

The purpose of the planning meeting was to establish the council’s position on the plans ahead of the public inquiry, and to see what the committee would have decided had they still been in charge of the final decision.

As a result of the meeting, the council rejected the plans for a second time, citing security concerns over the embassy site attracting potentially large crowds of protesters, and the impact this could have on nearby historical landmarks as well as on tourists and nearby residents.

The Chinese government purchased Royal Mint Court for £255 million in May 2018.

The plans involve the partial bulldozing of some of the Grade II listed buildings, while others would be refurbished and restored.

The site, which covers over 5 acres of land and has reportedly been empty since 2013, would also have accommodation for diplomats, offices and a new visa office and cultural exchange building.

If the plans are approved by the Government, the embassy would be the largest in Britain and China’s largest diplomatic mission in Europe.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously said: “Applications for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets have been called in for ministers to decide. A final decision will be made in due course.”