China plans a new embassy near the Tower of London that would be the largest in Europe, sited on a two-century-old building. The proposal has been stalled for three years amid opposition from multiple British groups. The UK government extended its decision deadline to October after Beijing declined to explain blacked-out areas in submitted plans. The planning consultancy DP9 said additional drawings provided sufficient detail and that more detailed internal layouts were unnecessary. Critics cite risks of spying, harassment of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, security concerns for nearby residents, and the prospect of large protests. The complex would include offices, a large basement, housing for 200 staff, and a connecting tunnel.
The British government has extended the deadline to October to decide on whether to approve Chinas plans to build the largest embassy in Europe in London, after Beijing refused to explain why the plans contained blacked-out areas. China's plans to build a new embassy on the site of a two-century-old building near the Tower of London have stalled for the past three years because of opposition from numerous groups in Britain.
Pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong fear Beijing could use the embassy to harass political opponents and even detain them, while nearby residents fear it could pose a security risk to them and attract large protests. Politicians in Britain and the United States have warned the government against allowing China to build the embassy on the site over concerns that it could be used as a base for spying.
DP9, the planning consultancy working for the Chinese government, said on Friday its client felt it would be inappropriate to provide full internal layout plans, saying additional drawings provided an acceptable level of detail, after the government asked why several areas were blacked out in drawings. The Applicant considers the level of detail shown on the unredacted plans is sufficient to identify the main uses, DP9 said in a letter to the government.
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