Beijing scraps plan to build Chinese 'super embassy' near Tower Bridge

The Chinese government bought the site for over £255 million in 2018 and planned to build an outpost 10 times the size of the current embassy. Handout

China abandoned plans to build a «super embassy» on the site of the old Royal Mint after opposition from MPs, residents and the local council.

Beijing had until Thursday to try to revive the project, which was blocked by the local council in December last year.

China did not appeal, however, signaling the end of plans to build the largest embassy in Europe.

Proposals for the construction of a new 700,000 sq. feet three miles east of Westminster were first unveiled in June 2021.

However, Tower Hamlets council unanimously rejected the plan in December.

Beijing reacted in fury, blaming the British government of failing to comply with its international obligations and promising to appeal the decision.

However, the six-month window for appealing the decision, which began in February, expired on Thursday without any action. from China.

A spokesman for the Tower Hamlets Council confirmed that no appeal had been filed and said, “The time limit for an appeal by the Chinese Embassy or persons acting on its behalf is six months from the date of the decision. The decision was rendered on February 10, so the deadline for appeal is today [Thursday]. a Grade II listed summer site was where British coinage was produced from 1809 until the early 1970s. Credit: HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS

Sources close to the embassy scheme believe the Chinese may now be trying to turn the land into housing.

The Chinese government bought the site of the former Royal Mint in 2018 for over £255m.

This 200-year-old Grade II-listed site produced British coins from 1809 to the early 1970s . The Mint itself was built on the foundations of a 14th-century Cistercian abbey, the remains of which are still partly visible in the basement. This place was also the pit of the Black Death.

China planned to build a diplomatic outpost 10 times the size of its current embassy in Marylebone, near Paddington.

However, the council rejected the application on the grounds that it would endanger local residents as it was in danger of a terrorist attack. In addition, activists also expressed concern that the site could become a «secret police station.»

At a planning meeting last December, David Lake, head of a local residents' association near the Mint, said: » I fear a diplomatic incident because the powers the Chinese government has are far-reaching and excessive.»

The Chinese state dismissed the objections as «minor».

At the time of the initial rejection in the past Chinese Embassy spokesman said: «It should be noted that the host countries have an international obligation to promote and support the construction of diplomatic mission premises.»

» The Chinese side urges the British side to fulfill its respective obligations.»