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A decision on whether to sanction China's proposal for a new large diplomatic complex in London has been delayed anew by the administration.

Residential Affairs Secretary Steve Reed had been scheduled to decide on the proposal by 21 October, but the cut-off date has been moved forward to 10 December.

It is the second time the authorities has postponed a determination on the contentious site, whose location has generated worries it could create an espionage risk.

A determination had initially been scheduled by 9 September after cabinet members assumed authority of the procedure from Tower Hamlets, the municipal authority, last year.

Security Concerns Raised

China acquired the property of the suggested fresh embassy, at Royal Mint Court, adjacent to the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018. At 20,000 square metres, the planned facility would be the largest embassy in Europe should it proceed.

The outstanding decision on whether to sanction the recent embassy was earlier under detailed review because of worries about the protection ramifications of the plan, including the position, dimensions and design of the facility.

The site is close to fibre optic cables carrying communications to and from economic establishments in the City of London. Concerns have been raised that Beijing agents could use the location to tap into the cables and eavesdrop.

Recent Developments

Further questions have been brought up in recent weeks about the type of the threat presented by Beijing, following the collapse of the legal proceeding against two men accused of intelligence gathering for China.

The National Prosecution Authority surprisingly dropped charges against legislative research specialist Christopher Cash, 30, and academic Christopher Berry, 33, last month. Both men contest the claims.

Previous Delays

The government's initial postponement was requested by Reed's former secretary Angela Rayner, after she inquired China to explain why some rooms within its planning documents had been redacted for "protection issues".

Architectural specialists representing the Beijing diplomatic mission had responded that China "does not feel that, as a fundamental issue, it is necessary or fitting to furnish full internal layout plans".

Rayner had written back to parties participating in the consultation, including China, the London police and a local residents' association, to give them more time to answer to the schemes and placing the deadline later to 21 October.

Current Situation

Reed, who assumed the accommodation position following Rayner's exit last month, has now requested more time before a final decision must be reached.

In a letter examined by media outlets, the housing department said additional time was necessary due to the "detailed nature" of replies collected previously.

It added that it was incapable to set a new deadline for additional feedback until it gets pending responses from the Foreign Office and Home Office.

Suggested Features

The proposed complex would include administrative areas, a substantial underground space, housing for 200 staff, and a new tunnel to connect the Embassy House to a separate building on the diplomatic campus.

Political Reactions

Beijing's proposal for the embassy was first refused by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over safety and security concerns.

It resubmitted an same request to the authority in August 2024, one month after the administration changed.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK has earlier stated the fresh facility would enhance "reciprocal advantageous partnership" between China and Britain.

In a recent government message issued together with Reed's letter explaining his causes for the most recent postponement, a Chinese official said oppositions to the location were "either baseless or unreasonable".

Opposition Views

The Political Rivals said Administration members should throw out the application, and accused them of trying to "muffle the alerts about the dangers to state security" presented by the consulate location.

The Alternative Group also called for the proposal to be prevented, urging the authorities to "stand up to China".

International Relations representative Calum Miller said it would be "insane" for cabinet members to permit the diplomatic project to proceed, after alerts from the director of MI5 on Thursday about the threat of Beijing spying.

Protection Apprehensions

A ex-top counselor to the former Prime Minister said MI5 and MI6 had warned him China was "attempting to construct a spy centre underneath the embassy," when he was working at Downing Street.

Speaking on a political podcast, the consultant said the agencies had informed him that allowing the embassy to be erected would be "a highly unwise choice".

In his yearly address, the intelligence chief said "Beijing government agents" presented a country protection risk to the UK "each day".

He mentioned that the UK needed to "guard itself strongly" against China, while also being able to "take advantage of the possibilities" from having a relationship with Beijing.