Plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in London have triggered a major national security alert, with experts warning the complex could be used to spy on the UK and serve as an intelligence hub for the whole of Europe.
Secret Chambers and 'Spy Dungeons' Near Sensitive Cables
Unredacted planning documents, unveiled recently, reportedly show a hidden triangular room in the building's north-west corner. This chamber measures up to 40 metres across and is situated just metres away from a critical fibre-optic cable network. These cables transmit sensitive financial data between the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Professor Anthony Glees, a professor of intelligence and security at the University of Buckingham, stated it would be 'absolutely mad' to allow China to proceed. 'You can see from the plans how close rooms run to those cables - they can be tapped very easily,' he told LBC. He also noted the presence of heating systems suitable for large servers, suggesting the site's potential for espionage operations.
Documents also reveal that the outer wall of this secret chamber, which lies directly adjacent to the cables, would be demolished and rebuilt—a move described by security expert Professor Alan Woodward as a 'red flag' and an 'enormous temptation'.
Political Pressure and Fears of Intimidation
The security warning coincides with a letter from a group of Labour MPs urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reject China's application, which could be approved as soon as this week. The MPs, including Sarah Champion of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, cited significant unresolved concerns.
Their fears are based on:
- The recent track record of Chinese espionage and interference activities.
- The issuing of bounties against UK-based Hong Kongers.
- The embassy's location above infrastructure critical to UK economic and national security.
Professor Glees further raised alarms about the size of the 215,280 sq ft embassy complex, suggesting it could be used to intimidate and detain critics. He referenced a 2022 incident where a Hong Kong protester was dragged into the Chinese consulate in Manchester and assaulted.
A Long-Running Controversy with High Stakes
The row over the planned 'super-embassy' on the former Royal Mint site has rumbled since China purchased the land for £255 million in 2018. Security fears were immediately raised due to its proximity to sensitive underground communications in the Square Mile.
Last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that planning documents included 'spy dungeons'—two suites of anonymous basement rooms and a tunnel, with their purpose redacted. Diplomatic sources also suggested a proposed 'spy campus' could house over 200 intelligence officers.
With Downing Street reportedly keen to approve the plans to smooth relations ahead of a potential Prime Ministerial visit to China, critics argue the security risks are too great. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the unredacted plans 'shocking', while China has dismissed claims the embassy would be an espionage hub. BT stated it has 'robust security measures in place' and works with the government to protect its assets.
