Overview
- Housing Secretary Steve Reed granted planning permission and listed building consent for China’s new mission at Royal Mint Court, with the decision final unless overturned in court.
- The complex is described at roughly 20,000–22,000 square metres and would be China’s largest embassy in Europe, consolidating seven existing London sites into one.
- The government says intelligence agencies were involved throughout and that no national-security bodies objected, with measures set out to manage identified risks.
- Opponents point to reported hidden basement rooms and the site’s proximity to fibre‑optic cables serving London’s financial districts, and residents are fundraising for a judicial review.
- The approval removes a diplomatic obstacle and is expected to pave the way for a Keir Starmer visit to China, drawing sharp criticism from Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.