Angela Rayner has given China two weeks to clarify why elements of its plans for a brand new mega-embassy in London are redacted.
The deputy prime minister’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities despatched a letter asking for additional info and requested a response by 20 August, the BBC understands.
Beijing’s plans for the brand new embassy have sparked fears its location – very close to London’s monetary district – may pose an espionage danger. Residents close by additionally concern it will pose a safety danger to them and entice giant protests.
The BBC has contacted the Chinese language embassy in London for remark.
A ultimate planning resolution on the controversial plans can be made by 9 September, the BBC understands.
In a letter seen by the PA information company, Rayner, who as housing secretary is accountable for overseeing planning issues, asks planning consultants representing the Chinese language embassy to clarify why drawings of the deliberate web site are blacked out.
The House Workplace and the Overseas Workplace additionally acquired copies of the letter.
It notes that the House Workplace requested a brand new “exhausting perimeter” be positioned across the embassy web site, to stop “unregulated public entry”, and says this might require an extra planning software.
There are issues, held by some opponents, that the Royal Mint Court docket web site could allow China to infiltrate the UK’s financial system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying delicate knowledge for companies within the Metropolis of London.
Professional-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong additionally concern Beijing may use the large embassy to harass political opponents and even detain them. Final month, the UK condemned cash offers from Hong Kong authorities for individuals who assist in the arrest of pro-democracy activists dwelling in Britain.
Alicia Kearns, the shadow nationwide safety minister, stated: “No surprises right here – Labour’s rush to appease Xi Jinping’s calls for for a brand new embassy demonstrated a complacency when it got here to preserving our folks secure. Having deluded themselves for therefore lengthy, they’ve recognised we had been proper to be vigilant.”
Responding to safety issues earlier this week, the Chinese language embassy instructed the BBC it was “dedicated to selling understanding and the friendship between the Chinese language and British peoples and the event of mutually useful cooperation between the 2 international locations. Constructing the brand new embassy would assist us higher carry out such obligations”.
China purchased the previous Royal Mint Court docket for £255m in 2018. At 20,000 sq. metres, the complicated would be the largest embassy in Europe if it goes forward.
The plan includes a cultural centre and housing for 200 employees, however within the basement, behind safety doorways, there are additionally rooms with no recognized use on the plans.
Beijing’s software for the embassy had beforehand been rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over security and safety issues.
It resubmitted an an identical software in August 2024, one month after Labour got here to energy.
On 23 August, Sir Keir Starmer phoned Chinese language President Xi Jinping for his or her first talks. Sir Keir confirmed afterwards that Xi had raised the embassy problem.
Rayner has since exercised her energy to take the matter out of the council’s palms amid makes an attempt by the federal government to interact with China after a cooling of relations through the ultimate years of Conservative Social gathering rule.
Senior ministers have signalled they’re in favour if minor changes are made to the plan.
