City Of London

China’s Plans to Build New Embassy Near Tower of London Is Rejected

China paid £255 million for the Royal Mint Court site in 2018
Tower Hamlets councilors rejected the plan on Thursday evening

Artist’s illustration of the proposed frontage of the Chinese Embassy in east London. Source: Tower Hamlets Council

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By Damian Shepherd and Jack Sidders

December 1, 2022 at 9:58 PM UTC

Updated on

December 2, 2022 at 9:01 AM UTC

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China’s controversial plan to build a new embassy near the Tower of London has been rejected in a council meeting on Thursday evening.

Beijing wants to build its biggest European embassy on Royal Mint Court, the former home of Britain’s state-owned coin producer. China originally bought the site for £255 million ($311 million) in May 2018, with the view of replacing its current embassy in the Marylebone neighborhood.