China revives plan for London ‘super embassy’ after Labour election victory

Beijing has revived plans to build a “super embassy” just miles from Westminster in an early test of the new Government’s approach to China.

Controversial plans for a giant embassy on the site of the former Royal Mint near the Tower of London were resubmitted weeks after the general election.

In documents lodged with Tower Hamlets council, representatives for the Chinese embassy said its rejection of the project in December 2022 was “without merit” and had “no basis in planning policy”. It is urging officials to reconsider its planning application, which is unchanged from the one that was rejected two years ago.

Beijing did not appeal the initial rejection, missing the six-month window it had in which to do so.

The long wait to re-submit its plans has led to speculation that Beijing is responding to the change in government.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “China doesn’t do anything by coincidence. China are now going to try it on with the Labour government, to see if it can be persuaded into giving them the embassy it wants.”

Foreign minister David Lammy has vowed to undertake a “full audit” of the UK’s ties with China as part of a reset of relations. He has called for an approach of “progressive realism” that reflects the threats in the world but looks to work with nations on issues where there is common ground.

While it will be up to Tower Hamlets to review the plans for the “super embassy”, the project’s significance means the Government will likely face pressure from Beijing on the issue. China accused the former government of failing to meet its diplomatic obligations when the plans were initially rejected.

Initial plans for a circa 620,000 sq ft diplomatic outpost were filed in 2021. As well as an embassy, the site would also contain offices, 225 homes and a “cultural exchange” building.

It would sit three miles east of Westminster, and be more than 10 times the size of China’s existing base at Portland Place in Marylebone. The Chinese government bought the listed site for more than £255m in 2018.

Proposals for the “super embassy” faced strong opposition from MPs and local residents.

The council received 51 objections to the initial proposals, citing safety and security concerns as well as the potential risk of protests in the area.

Pro-democracy protesters were beaten outside the Chinese consulate in Manchesterin 2022 by men who appeared to emerge from the building. Opponents of the London project cited this incident and raised concerns that the building could become a “secret police station”.

The Chinese state dismissed objections at the time as “non-material”.

Sir Iain said the revived plans should be rejected once more. He said: “If [China] wants an embassy it should be away from the main part of the city, as the US has done and others are doing.”

Tensions between the UK and China are at a high level. In May, the UK said China was likely behind a hack on the Ministry of Defence, which Beijing denied.

A spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: “A 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.”