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A ruling on whether to approve Beijing's application for a recent substantial consulate in London has been delayed once more by the authorities.

Residential Affairs Secretary Steve Reed had been due to rule on the proposal by 21 October, but the deadline has been moved forward to 10 December.

It is the second occasion the authorities has deferred a determination on the controversial property, whose placement has sparked worries it could present an espionage risk.

A determination had first been expected by 9 September after cabinet members assumed authority of the procedure from Tower Hamlets, the local council, last year.

Safety Worries Brought Up

China purchased the location of the suggested recent embassy, at Royal Mint Court, close to the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018. At 20,000 square metres, the planned facility would be the largest embassy in Europe assuming approval.

The awaiting determination on whether to authorize the recent embassy was previously under intense examination because of concerns about the safety consequences of the scheme, including the position, dimensions and architecture of the facility.

The location is adjacent to fibre optic cables carrying communications to and from economic establishments in the City of London. Apprehensions have been brought up that Beijing agents could use the location to intercept the connections and monitor communications.

Latest Changes

Additional inquiries have been raised in recent weeks about the nature of the danger presented by Beijing, following the termination of the legal proceeding against two men alleged of spying for China.

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

Prior Deferrals

The administration's first delay was sought by Reed's former secretary Angela Rayner, after she asked China to detail why particular spaces within its planning documents had been obscured for "protection issues".

Development advisors employed by the Beijing diplomatic mission had replied that China "does not believe that, as a fundamental issue, it is essential or appropriate to supply detailed room arrangements".

Rayner had written back to organizations participating in the consultation, including China, the London police and a community organization, to provide extended periods to answer to the schemes and setting the time limit back to 21 October.

Current Situation

Reed, who assumed the accommodation position following Rayner's exit last month, has now asked for more time before a ultimate ruling needs to be made.

In a correspondence examined by media outlets, the housing department said additional time was needed due to the "comprehensive character" of replies received so far.

It mentioned that it was not able to determine another time limit for additional feedback until it receives awaiting answers from the Foreign Office and Home Office.

Planned Amenities

The planned facility would incorporate offices, a substantial underground space, residences for 200 staff, and a new tunnel to link the Embassy House to a independent facility on the diplomatic campus.

Political Reactions

Beijing's application for the embassy was originally denied by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over protection and safety issues.

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

The Beijing Diplomatic Mission in the UK has formerly mentioned the recent development would strengthen "reciprocal advantageous partnership" between China and Britain.

In a recent government message issued together with Reed's correspondence explaining his motivations for the most recent postponement, a Chinese official said objections to the property were "either baseless or unjustified".

Opposition Views

The Conservatives said Labour ministers should dismiss the application, and alleged them of trying to "muffle the alerts about the threats to state security" posed by the consulate location.

The Liberal Democrats also requested the proposal to be stopped, urging the administration to "resist China".

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said it would be "irrational" for government officials to permit the embassy development to proceed, after alerts from the director of MI5 on Thursday about the risk of Beijing spying.

Security Worries

A previous senior consultant to the former Prime Minister said MI5 and MI6 had cautions him China was "seeking to establish a intelligence facility below the embassy," when he was working at Downing Street.

Commenting during a public affairs broadcast, the advisor said the agencies had informed him that permitting the embassy to be constructed would be "an extremely bad idea".

In his annual speech, the protection head said "Beijing government agents" presented a country protection risk to the UK "daily".

He stated that the UK needed to "defend itself resolutely" against China, while also being able to "capitalize on the chances" from maintaining connections with Beijing.