Westminster residents are set to contest a council decision allowing the Embassy of Montenegro to operate from a family home at 40 Cambridge Street in central London, after saying the building had already been used as an embassy for eight months. The row centres on a house in the middle of a residential street, where neighbours say the diplomatic move was pushed through over their objections.
The council approved the landlord's application after a hearing on Tuesday, despite opposition from local residents led by David Simpson. Simpson said no local Westminster councillor or organisation backed the plan and told the meeting: "You are aware of the level of local opposition to this planning application." He said, "Not a single person has spoken in favour of giving permission and every local Westminster councillor and organisation opposes it," and added, "We will appeal the decision. It makes no sense to allow the owner of 40 Cambridge Street to let his house (in perpetuity, if he wishes) to a foreign state and deprive our Pimlico conservation area of a family home in breach of all of Westminster's planning guidelines."
Planning officers said the embassy had already been searching for new premises for several months when the application came forward, and the council said there were wider public benefits in allowing the use, including support for positive diplomatic relations. Officials also said Montenegro is a small country and expected visitor numbers to be low, while the site will not be allowed to host events for more than 15 people. The embassy had started displaying the Montenegro flag before seeking planning permission, a sequence residents say underlines their frustration.
The embassy's spokesperson said, "We are committed to being a respectful and considerate presence in the neighbourhood." The spokesperson also said, "The embassy has followed all required procedures and we remain fully open to constructive dialogue with neighbours to address any concerns and ensure a positive relationship with the local community." The embassy said its activities do not generate significant public traffic and that larger diplomatic events would be held elsewhere. "Our operational setup is designed to ensure minimal disruption, consistent with our experience at previous premises," the spokesperson said.
The dispute has sharpened a familiar tension in London, where diplomatic missions sometimes operate from ordinary homes rather than purpose-built offices. Council officers said enforcement could be difficult if diplomatic immunity becomes an issue, and the source noted that North Korea's embassy in London is also in a residential house in Ealing. For Simpson and his neighbours, though, the decision has already landed as a loss for one street and a test of how far planning rules can bend for diplomacy.
