The association who launched the legal action has vowed they will 'fight on'
China's super-embassy in London can go ahead after the High Court challenge has been dismissed.
Legal action was brought against the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the borough of Tower Hamlets by the Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA).
The RMCRA argued the proposed location for the super-embassy, earmarked to be near the Tower of London, could be used to enforce "draconian" Chinese policies in the UK.
It said the embassy's presence could mean the Chinese could more easily target dissidents and repress protests.
Representing families and businesses in around 100 properties in the area, the association also raised concerns the Chinese would disregard construction health and safety rules, which they would not be subject to due to diplomatic immunity.
The Government and council defended the claim, arguing they "conscientiously and carefully had regard" to the association's concerns.
Two High Court judges dismissed the RMCRA's challenge today, following a hearing earlier this month.
They rejected the claim the planning decision had been made unlawfully – specifically, there was a failure to disclose a blast assessment and security statement, the Government had not identified and assessed human rights in the decision nor followed planning regulations.
Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting with Lord Justice Dingemans, said there was "no doubt" the Government took into account it was the Chinese applying for planning permission.
She said the RMCRA was not disadvantaged by not receiving the results of a "blast assessment" at the time of the planning decision, which detailed the effect of a possible terror bombing.
The judge said: "There was no unfairness to the claimant by reason of these documents not having been disclosed."
Instructing its lawyers, the RMCRA has asked them to apply for permission to appeal the High Court ruling.
Dave Lake of the association said: "They might have the billions, but we are in for the long haul and will be seeking to win permission for an appeal.
"We live here. This is our home and a rubber-stamp decision doesn’t change the fact that a fortress doesn’t belong in our community.
"If they think this is the end of the road, they’re going to discover that they are wrong. We fight on."
The Chinese super-embassy is due to be built on the site of the Royal Mint Court, near Tower Bridge in central London.
Steve Reed, the then-Housing Secretary signed off planning permission for the super-embassy at the beginning of the year.
The Chinese Communist Party purchased the land for £255million in 2018.
Critics of the Chinese Government said they would continue to fight against the planned super-embassy in London, to stop it becoming a possible "power centre" for the Communist Party.
Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: "Beijing thinks this judgment is the final word. It isn’t.
"If they expect us to roll over and allow our own capital to become a CCP power centre, they have completely misjudged the strength of opposition to this mega-embassy."
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel blamed the "unserious" Labour Government for the super-embassy, saying it will "compromise" British national security.
She said: "Thanks to this unserious Labour Government, Britain’s national security is set to be compromised by a new Chinese super embassy spy hub operating in the heart of our capital.
"Will he put our country’s interests first, stand up to Beijing, protect our national security and do the right thing by ditching this dreadful plan – a legacy of the failed (Sir Keir) Starmer years?"
A spokesman for the Ministry OF Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We acknowledge the judgment.
"The challenge against the Secretary of State’s decision to approve planning permission and listed building consent for a new Chinese embassy was unsuccessful.
"As the case may still be subject to litigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further."
