Police have objected to plans for China’s controversial new “super embassy” in east London after the proposals were called in by ministers.
The huge proposed consulate opposite Tower Bridge was refused by Tower Hamlets council in December 2022 and China was believed to have abandoned the plans.
But the plans were re-submitted earlier this year, and will now be considered by ministers after a public inquiry.
Counterterror police have raised concerns about the site, saying it was bound to attract large protests, the Times reported.
Jon Savell, of the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism unit, said there was nowhere near the site - the former Royal Mint - that could accommodate more than 100 demonstrators.
DAC Savell raised fears the embassy would make it “more attractive” for demonstrations to be held, and that protests would likely spill across to the Tower of London.
Tackling those protests could take officers away from frontline duties, and because the proposed site is not close to other embassies, could prove harder to reach in an emergency, he warned.
Tower Hamlets councillors rejected the scheme despite planning officers describing it as “well-designed” and recommending approval.
They cited the potential harm to surrounding heritage sites, such as the Tower of London, and the impact of the development on residents living in the neighbouring Royal Mint Estate.
The Chinese Government bought the former Royal Mint six years ago in a bid to create one of the largest embassies in the world.
The plans have been met by some campaigners and local politicians 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.
Under the proposals, the Grade II-listed Johnson Smirke Building and Seaman’s Register would also be refurbished.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London previously said: “The resubmitted planning application has taken into full consideration the UK’s planning policy and guidance as well as opinions of all relevant parties. This is a high-quality development scheme.
“Host countries have the international obligation to support and facilitate the building of the premises of diplomatic missions.
“Both China and the UK have the need to build a new embassy in each other’s capital, and the two sides should provide facilitation to each other.”
