Planning Decision on China’s Royal Mint Court Embassy Postponed Again

The UK government has once again delayed its decision on China’s proposed new embassy complex at Royal Mint Court, adjacent to the Tower of London. A site that, if approved, would become the largest diplomatic compound in Europe.

Originally scheduled for a ruling by 21 October, the decision deadline has now been extended to 10 December, marking the second postponement since ministers took over the application from Tower Hamlets Council. The delay, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, reflects the detailed and technical nature of the planning submissions and the number of responses received from statutory consultees.

China purchased the 20,000m² Royal Mint Court site for £255 million in 2018, and the redevelopment proposal remains one of the most significant and complex planning cases currently under consideration in central London.

The masterplan includes:

➜ A new main embassy building with high-spec office and conference facilities

➜ Residential accommodation for around 200 staff

➜ A large basement structure to support services and logistics

➜ A tunnel link connecting Embassy House with a secondary building within the compound

The project, designed with an emphasis on security, sustainability and long-term functionality, represents a major engineering and construction undertaking within a sensitive historic setting. The Royal Mint Court site sits within a densely layered heritage zone, surrounded by Grade I and II listed buildings and key urban infrastructure, requiring close coordination with multiple planning and heritage authorities.

The original application was refused by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022, with the subsequent resubmission lodged in August 2024. Following the change of government, the Housing Secretary assumed responsibility for determining the scheme later that year.

While the political and diplomatic implications have drawn the most public attention, the case also highlights broader issues facing large-scale construction projects in high-security and conservation areas, from managing subterranean infrastructure and heritage constraints to ensuring compliance with modern sustainability and building performance standards.

Once a final decision is made, the Royal Mint Court redevelopment will likely set a benchmark for future embassy and institutional construction in London, both in terms of design approach and regulatory scrutiny.