David Chipperfield Architects’ plans to convert the former Royal Mint base near the Tower of London into a new embassy for the People’s Republic of China are set to get the stamp of approval later this week.

China bought the 2.1ha site, north-east of Tower Bridge, in 2018 with the intention of creating a new embassy to replace its current Portland Place outpost. The site had been home to the Royal Mint until 1976, after which it was converted for other office use augmented by new low-rise buildings.

Sheppard Robson and Morrow & Lorraine won planning permission for an office-and-retail-led redevelopment of the site in 2016, but that consent has now lapsed without implementation.

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