The Government has backed the Chinese Government's plans for a major new embassy complex at Royal Mint Court near the City of London.
Writing to the Planning Inspectorate for England, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised the ‘importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals’.
The ministers added that the Metropolitan Police had ‘withdrawn their objection’ to the development because they had concluded there was ‘sufficient space for future protests’.
They also urged Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who called in the application from Tower Hamlets Council, not to make a final decision on the plans ‘until a firm plan is agreed’ on the ‘consolidation’ of seven other premises for which China has diplomatic accreditation.
