Decision on China mega embassy site in London delayed again

A decision on whether to approve China’s application for a new super-embassy in London has been delayed again by the government.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed had been due to rule on the application by 21 October, but the deadline has been pushed back to 10 December.

It is the second time the government has delayed a decision on the controversial site.

A ruling had originally been due by 9 September after ministers took control of the process from Tower Hamlets, the local council, last year.

China bought the site of the proposed new embassy, at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018.

At 20,000 square metres, the proposed complex would be the biggest embassy in Europe if it goes ahead.

But Beijing’s plans for the sprawling new embassy have sparked fears its location – near London’s financial district – could pose an espionage risk.

Pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong also fear Beijing could use the huge embassy to harass political opponents and even detain them.

And residents nearby also fear it would pose a security risk to them and attract large protests.