China has been given two weeks by Angela Rayner to explain why certain aspects of its proposals for a new mega-embassy in London have been left blank. According to the BBC, the deputy prime minister’s Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has written a letter requesting more details and a response by August 20.
Beijing’s plans for the new embassy have raised concerns that it might be open to espionage due to its position in Royal Mint Court, which is close to London’s financial quarter. Locals worry that it would endanger their safety and spark widespread demonstrations. The BBC has approached the Chinese embassy in London for a statement. The BBC is aware that a final planning decision regarding the contentious plans will be reached by September 9.
In a letter seen by the PA news agency, Rayner, who is in charge of managing planning issues in his capacity as housing secretary, requests an explanation from planning experts working for the Chinese embassy as to why the planned site’s designs are blacked out. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Foreign Office and the Home Office.
To prevent “unregulated public access,” the Home Office asked for a new “hard perimeter” to be erected around the embassy grounds. It states that this may need a second planning application.
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