The British government has approved China’s construction of Europe’s largest embassy in London, eight years after Beijing bought the site.
Published on January 20, 2026
The British government has approved China’s construction of Europe’s largest embassy in London, eight years after Beijing bought the site.
Housing Minister Steve Reid’s decision to grant planning permission on Tuesday comes ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starr’s expected visit to China later this month, the first by a British leader since 2018.
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China’s plans to build a new embassy on the site of the two-century-old Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London have been stalled for three years by opposition from British residents, MPs and pro-Hong Kong democracy campaigners.
Pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong fear Beijing could use the embassy to harass and even detain political opponents, while nearby residents fear it could threaten their security and attract mass protests.
Politicians in Britain and the United States have warned governments against allowing China to build an embassy on the site over concerns it could be used as a base for espionage.
A future embassy could still face legal challenges as residents said they plan to challenge the approval in court.
Reid said the decision is now final barring a successful challenge in court.
A government spokesman said intelligence agencies had helped develop “a range of … measures to manage any risk”.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said China would continue to pose a national security threat but added “After considering in detail all the potential risks surrounding this new embassy … I am confident that the UK’s national security is protected”.
The Chinese government acquired the Royal Mint Court in 2018, but requests for permission to build a new embassy there were rejected by the local council in 2022 over safety and security concerns.
Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping asked Starmer to intervene.
Starmer’s government had Repeatedly postponed the decision Several cases of alleged Chinese espionage and political interference in recent months have underscored concerns about the proposed embassy.
In November, domestic intelligence agency MI5 Alert issued to MPs Warning that Chinese agents are making “targeted and widespread” efforts to recruit and cultivate them using LinkedIn or cover companies.
Beijing has strongly denied the claims, calling them “pure fabrications and malicious slander”.
Starmer has stressed that while protecting national security is out of the question, Britain needs to continue diplomatic dialogue and cooperation with Asian superpowers.