Families search funds in bid to dam Chinese ‘mega embassy’ amid warnings of threats to nationwide safety

Opponents of a new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London, which experts say poses a threat to national security, are crowdfunding to pay for legal action to scupper it.

Plans for the site by the Tower of London were blocked by the last Tory government on security grounds.

But they look set to be allowed by Labour, which wants closer ties with Beijing.

More than 100 families living near the development on the site of the old Royal Mint are now asking for donations to pay for a judicial review.

Mark Nygate, organiser of the campaign, which had raised £29,000 last night, said: ‘Every donation brings us closer to stopping this.’

The Government has admitted it still hasn’t seen the full plans.

Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance On China, said: ‘The job of defending UK interests has been left to a group of residents.’

If the development is given the go-ahead the Chinese embassy at the site of the old Royal Mint (above) would become the largest in Europe

Opponents of a new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London are crowdfunding to pay for legal action to scupper it (Pictured: Protesters on December 6, 2025)

The development, on the site of a former Barclays trading floor, would have accommodation for more than 200 diplomats and intelligence officers, making it the largest embassy in Europe.

A nearby tunnel has carried fibre optic cables under the Thames since 1985.

The Bank of England has also highlighted the risks of allowing the embassy to be built close to sensitive financial centres.