China’s plans to build a massive embassy in the villages of the tower caused a new row after the Internal Secretary and the Minister of Foreign Affairs intervened in the deeply debatable proposal.
Yvette Cooper and David Lammy reported their for the program, despite the security disorders raised through the Metropolitan Police and the manifestations of the residents.
The move has been branded “an extraordinary attempt to influence an independent inquiry” by a concerned local councillor.
China’s proposal to the old construction of the royal mint at the largest embassy in Europe was rejected through the Hamlets de la Torre Council before the Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, calls them and announces that he would take the best resolution In October.
In a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate this week, Ms Cooper and Mr Lammy stressed the “importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals”.
Counter-terrorism police said the site, unlike the Tower of London, would attract giant protests and that protests over the protests could take officials away from frontline duties.
It is also said that intelligence is involved on the proximity of the region to critical communications cables, which can be vulnerable to attack.
In their letter, seen by the Standard, Ms Cooper and Mr Lammy said the Met had “withdrawn their objection”.
“Although there are differences in the opinion on which protesters would join the maximum, probably, in general, experts in the public order of the Metropolitan Police are content with sufficient area for long -term demonstrations without having a significant effect on the Adjacent road network, “the two main ministers said.
“The Metropolitan Police withdrew their objection to the application. “
The letter also suggests the removal of plans for “unregulated public access” to the ruins of the Cistercian monastery on the grounds of the site, arguing that the diplomatic prestige of the complex can maintain the emergency when responding to incidents, as they want permission to enter.
On the other hand, the ministers said that a necessary hard perimeter, with “occasional controlled public access” between the Chinese embassy and the authorities.
The intervention came just days after Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited Beijing and Shanghai in a bid to boost economic and trade ties with the UK. Mr Lammy also visited China last year.
Tower Hamlets councilor, Peter Golds said: “This is an ordinary attempt to influence an independent investigation in one of the maximum manufacturing plans programs discussed in decades.
“This will be the largest embassy in Europe , a centre of potential disinformation located not only on a world heritage site but adjacent to the City of London, a world financial centre.
“The government wishes to be blank about the discussions that they have got had with the Chinese government on this.
“In addition, we listen to the” operational independence “of the police. The Met, which has a massive management of controlling demonstrations in the locations of the embassy, deserves to say why, after the government’s intervention, they replaced their mind. ” “
The Chinese Government bought the former Royal Mint seven years ago to create one of the largest embassies in the world.
Tower Hamlet Advisers rejected the program despite having plan agents describe it as “well-designed” and recommending approval.
They cited the potential harm to surrounding heritage sites, such as the Tower of London, security fears and the impact of the development on residents living in the neighbouring Royal Mint Estate.
Campaigners voiced their protest due to China’s repression of the Muslim Uyghur people. Tower Hamlets is the local authority with the highest proportion of Muslim residents in the country at almost 40 per cent.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan upheld the council’s decision in February 2023 and China then missed the deadline to appeal to the planning inspectorate, apparently ending the saga.
However, the proposals, which come with the renewal of the Johnson Smirke building, classified through Grade II and the Sailor registration, were presented last August.
The Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) showed in October that Rayner had “called” the program.
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