The embassy that China is planning would be opposite the Tower of London and the largest in Europe, sitting on a 5-acre site, with critics warning that the mega embassy would inevitably be home to more spies and could be used to harass Chinese dissidents.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has given China two weeks to explain why parts of its plans for a new mega-embassy in London have been blanked out. Beijing's plans for the sprawling new embassy have sparked fears its location - near London's financial district - could pose an espionage risk.

Angela Rayner has ordered China to explain why it has redacted blueprints of a basement and other areas in a “mega-embassy” to be built in London.