Government facing legal action over Chinese 'super embassy'
Residents have launched legal action over a development near the Tower of London
The government is facing legal action over its approval of a Chinese "super embassy" near the Tower of London.
The Royal Mint Court Residents' Association, which has filed a claim at the High Court, said there are concerns about the safety of people living nearby, national security risks, and whether planning permission controls can be enforced on diplomatic land.
Members of the association live in around 100 homes in St Mary Graces Court, next to the proposed site at Royal Mint Court.
They say the Government's approach was "unlawful, procedurally unfair, and failed to take into account key factors".
Represented by law firm Leigh Day, the association wants a High Court judge to overturn the Government's approval, which was announced on January 20.
They say the Government did not consider the effect on local people of potential protests against China and that money spent on securing sensitive telecommunications links near the site was not openly assessed as part of the decision.
Ricardo Gama, a partner at Leigh Day, said: "When a development of this scale is placed directly alongside people's homes, it is essential that the Government demonstrates it has fully considered the risks and followed a fair and open process.
"Instead, our clients say key information was withheld, critical safety issues were left unresolved, and residents were given no meaningful opportunity to understand or challenge what was being decided.
"We are asking the court to ensure that proper scrutiny takes place before any further steps are taken."
The association is also being supported in its claim by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
Announcing the approval in January, a statement from Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: "All material considerations were taken into account when making this decision."
A Government spokesperson added at the time: "National security is our first duty.
"Intelligence agencies have been involved throughout the process and an extensive range of measures have been developed to manage any risks."
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for further comment.