Written Question·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·UIN 113792

Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission

Tabled: 20 February 2026
Answered: 4 March 2026

Question

Kevin Hollinrake

ConservativeThirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chines Government made representation to her Department, outside of the planning process, on permissions for the proposed Chinese Embassy.

Answer

Seema Malhotra
As the Hon Member knows, the decision on the planning application was made by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government independent from the rest of Government in line with his quasi-judicial role.