Morag Ellis KC, a lawyer acting on behalf of the council, told Tuesday’s hearing that due to the Met withdrawing its objection, the council was “no longer in a position to present evidence in support of the putative reason for refusal”.
Chinese 'super-embassy' gets boost as council admits it can't argue against plans Plans to create a Chinese ‘super-embassy’ opposite the Tower of London received a boost on Tuesday as the local council confirmed it was unable to argue against the proposal.
While the council’s refusal against the project still technically “stands” in the eyes of the inquiry - and would, ordinarily, hold significant weight against the granting of planning permission - the borough has essentially acknowledged that it can no longer defend its reasons for that refusal.
Simon Bell, a lawyer speaking on behalf of the Royal Mint Court Residents Association, stressed that those living closest to the site were “hugely concerned and disappointed” by the council’s stance and would continue to argue against the scheme.
She added that the council had also received independent advice from a consultancy called iTransport, who advised, similarly to the Met, that “protest activity around the site can be adequately accommodated without putting pedestrians at risk or causing disruption to adjacent roads”.
