China has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the latest delay in the planning decision for its proposed new embassy in London. The postponement has fuelled speculation that failing to approve the project could disrupt Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for an official visit to China next month.
Downing Street has not denied that the Prime Minister had been considering a trip to Beijing and Shanghai from 29 to 31 January. China purchased the Royal Mint Court site for £255 million in 2018 with the intention of relocating its embassy from Marylebone, but its redevelopment plans were rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022.
After Labour’s election victory, China resubmitted the planning application, and Sir Keir later revealed the Government took over the decision following discussions with President Xi Jinping. MPs have urged Labour to block the proposal on security grounds, warning that the new site’s proximity to major fibre optic cables could enable Chinese intelligence gathering.
The planning deadline was extended after the Home and Foreign Secretaries said they had reached an arrangement with China to consolidate its diplomatic operations at a single site, subject to approval. In a letter, they confirmed that national security concerns had been addressed in consultation with police and other agencies, emphasising the need to balance diplomatic cooperation with the protection of the UK’s security.