{"id":761363,"date":"2024-10-23T10:16:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T09:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=761363"},"modified":"2024-10-23T10:16:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T09:16:32","slug":"chipperfields-chinese-embassy-plans-called-in-by-rayner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/chipperfields-chinese-embassy-plans-called-in-by-rayner","title":{"rendered":"Chipperfield\u2019s Chinese Embassy plans called in by Rayner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing in a letter on 14 October, the deputy prime minister informed Tower Hamlets Council that a public inquiry would be held into the recently relodged plans for a 2.3ha embassy complex<\/a> opposite Tower Bridge.<\/p>\n

The AJ understands that Rayner called in the proposal because it raises planning issues of national importance and that a planning inspector will be appointed in due course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tower Hamlets refused an earlier application for an identical scheme in December 2022. Previous<\/span> communities secretary Michael Gove never had the opportunity to rule on those plans as the Chinese government decided not to appeal the decision, seemingly abandoning the project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

London mayor Sadiq Khan also chose not to intervene.<\/p>\n

However, the proposals were resubmitted to Tower Hamlets Council in July this year. The Chinese Embassy said in the resubmitted planning documents that the reasons for refusal by Tower Hamlets in December 2022 were \u2018without merit and have no basis in planning policy\u2019 and that it was asking for the plans to be reconsidered.<\/p>\n

Tower Hamlets councillors rejected the earlier scheme, citing its potential harm to surrounding heritage assets such as the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the impact of the development on residents of the neighbouring Royal Mint Estate. However, planning officers had described the scheme as \u2018well-designed\u2019 and recommended its approval.<\/p>\n

Protesters and local politicians opposed the scheme because of China\u2019s repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur people \u2013 and David Chipperfield was criticised for accepting the commission (Is the new Chinese embassy Chipperfield’s most controversial job?<\/a>). Tower Hamlets has the largest Muslim population of any local authority in England and Wales, at 39.9 per cent.<\/p>\n

The embassy is planned for the site of the former Royal Mint, with Chipperfield proposing to retrofit its listed buildings and add landscaping.<\/p>\n

A Tower Hamlets spokesperson told the AJ in August: \u2018A new planning and listed building consent application has been submitted to develop an embassy on the site of Royal Mint Court. The planning team are reviewing the application and public consultation has commenced. At this stage, we do not have a target committee date.\u2019<\/p>\n

Chipperfield would refurbish the Grade II*-listed Johnson Smirke Building at the centre of the former Royal Mint site to include embassy space. A public square would be created in front of it, behind the site\u2019s gated entrance.<\/p>\n

The scheme would also refurbish the Grade II-listed Seaman\u2019s Register, which was remodelled by RMJM in the 1980s. It would create a new Embassy House by splitting up and remodelling the conjoined, Sheppard Robson-designed Murray and Dexter House.<\/p>\n

The longer building, Dexter House, would contain flats for embassy staff. The building\u2019s fa\u00e7ade would be reconfigured to provide a \u2018calmer and more unified\u2019 backdrop to the surrounding listed buildings. Meanwhile, Murray House would be repurposed into a new seven-storey Cultural Exchange building, clad in green ceramic.<\/p>\n

Confirming the call-in, a spokesperson for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: \u2018Applications for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets have been called in for ministers to decide. A final decision will be made in due course.’<\/p>\n

David Chipperfield Architects and the Chinese Embassy were contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Writing in a letter on 14 October, the deputy prime minister informed Tower Hamlets Council that a public inquiry would be held into the recently relodged plans for a 2.3ha embassy complex opposite Tower Bridge. The AJ understands that Rayner called in the proposal because it raises planning issues of national importance and that a …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131789,"featured_media":751958,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[681],"tags":[3905,2339,3907,5234],"yoast_head":"\nChipperfield\u2019s Chinese Embassy plans called in by Rayner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"David Chipperfield Architects\u2019 resubmitted plans for a new Chinese Embassy in London will face a planning inquiry after communities secretary Angela Rayner called in the controversial scheme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/chipperfields-chinese-embassy-plans-called-in-by-rayner\" 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