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Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 22 January 2025UIN 23786

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20283 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, on what date officials met representatives of the People’s Republic of China; whether special advisers were in attendance; whether representatives of other Departments were in attendance; and whether minutes were kept of the meeting.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

MHCLG officials attended meetings with representatives of the People’s Republic of China in January, April and December 2024, alongside officials from the FCDO. No special advisers were in attendance.

The purpose of attending these meetings was to explain the operation of the UK planning system and answer related queries. The merits of the proposed application for a new embassy were not discussed. Other clarification meetings took place with London-based embassy staff between May and October 2024.

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