Aging armored cruisers would eventually need replacement as station flagships. Battlecruisers were becoming too large and expensive for routine deployment to many distant stations. Hawkins-type large light cruisers were also judged unsuitable for that flagship role. This requirement could lead Britain to develop a new heavy cruiser even without treaty limits, with other navies responding to the British design.
Notable Point · 47:21-48:13
Why distant stations could still require a new heavy cruiser
The need for affordable station flagships could drive British heavy-cruiser development independently of treaty limits.