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The UK government has again delayed its decision over whether to approve a Chinese “super embassy” in London until January.
A decision over the controversial plan close to the Tower of London will now take place on 20 January, instead of 10 December, a letter from the planning inspectorate seen by Sky News says.
Despite multiple delays, Sky News understands the government is expected to approve the plans for what would be Europe’s largest embassy, with both MI5 and MI6 said to have given their blessing to the decision.
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Housing Secretary Steve Reed has said he needs more time to consider new representations from the Foreign Office and Home Office.
A letter from the home and foreign secretaries to the planning inspectorate, published with the latest delay letter, said their national security concerns have been addressed by the Chinese government committing to ensure all its diplomatic premises in London, excluding the ambassador’s house, are consolidated on to the new embassy site.
The new letter sent to ministers and “interested parties”, including the Inter Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) – which has warned against approving the embassy – said the government aims “to issue the decision as quickly as possible” on or before 20 January.
Luke de Pulford, executive director of IPAC, told Sky News: “This is the third delay, and entirely of the government’s own making.
“Residents and dissidents have endured months of dithering as the government tries to choose between UK national security and upsetting Beijing.”
Three delays by Labour government
Mr Reed became housing secretary in September and had already delayed the decision once from October, as he said he…
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