In the televised exchange between Kier Starmer and Xi JinPing at the Rio G20 conference, we hear our PM bring up himself the issue of the Chinese Embassy move East in London. It has been a sore point for the Chinese as the premises along Great Portland Street, as its busting at the seams, having been there since the Qing Dynasty first sent an envoy to the UK.
Furthermore, not since the US embassy moved to South London from Grosvenor Square have we had a similar proposed move of a major embassy in London like the Chinese Embassy move to Royal Mint Court, on the verge of the East End and gateway of the Docklands in East London. Its significance can not be understated as London”s diplomatic enclaves expanding into the historical quarters of the East End with this proposed move, is unprecedented.
Yet it faces much local opposition in the first attempt to get planning permission having been thrown out and has again been resubmitted by the consultants hired by the Chinese to the local council Tower Hamlets.
Looking at the application, the usual concerns of diplomats premises in the City of Westminster where we have the vast majority of them along with Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, seem to be all addressed. For example the refurbishment of the buildings on the site with the residential quarters for their staff and a brand new community facility, all combined actually to reduce the massing of the site overall. That is, it’s not an overdevelopment of the Royal Mint Court and very much in keeping with what we have there already. While other issues like the diplomatic parking is all accommodated within the site and not outside the premises, a source of much contention in central London neighbourhoods like Marylebone.
As for issues of security and demonstrations going over to the East as many have suggested who oppose the Chinese government, l am not sure its quite the issue made out by some. As the problems of policing could not have been as severe as those outside the US embassy over the years when it was on Grosvenor Square with the major demos it has attracted from the Vietnam war onwards? Since its move to the Nine Elms, it seems to have quieten down a lot in front of the US embassy at the new location. It maybe moving out of Central London does that and may well do so when the Chinese embassy moves East.