Plans for China’s new embassy in London can proceed after a legal challenge from nearby residents was dismissed by the High Court. The court ruled against the residents who sought to halt construction of the complex, which is set to become China’s largest diplomatic mission in Europe.

The challenge, brought by residents living near the former Royal Mint site where the embassy is to be built, was based in part on concerns that the facility could be used as a base to target Chinese dissidents. Opponents also cited risks of potential terrorist attacks and disruptions caused by protests linked to the politically sensitive development.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government defended the planning approval process, stating that officials had carefully considered the residents’ concerns. The government also rejected arguments that diplomatic and trade relations with China should influence the planning decision.

At a hearing last month, residents’ lawyers criticized the government for withholding detailed information, including floor plans and bomb risk assessments. However, Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting alongside Lord Justice Dingemans, determined that the ministers acted lawfully and that key findings from the blast risk assessment had been publicly disclosed. She described some of the residents’ arguments as based on “suspicion and conjecture” and found no unfairness in the limited disclosure of certain documents.

The site purchased by the Chinese government in 2018 covers 5.4 acres and includes the acquisition of freeholds for approximately 100 residential flats across four blocks adjacent to the planned embassy perimeter. The residential buildings themselves lie outside the embassy boundary.

China’s plans for the embassy, near the Tower of London, received official planning permission in January. The approval came amid diplomatic efforts to improve UK-China relations, including Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to China, the first by a British prime minister since 2018.

Despite the court ruling, opposition persists. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, indicated residents would pursue an appeal against the decision. He criticized the development as turning London into a “Chinese Communist Party power centre” and expressed determination to continue fighting the project.

The ruling marks a significant step forward for China’s diplomatic presence in London, reinforcing the UK government’s position that the development complies with legal and planning requirements despite ongoing local opposition.