Minister embroiled in row after allegations that certain plans were withheld from public view
A senior Labour minister has come under parliamentary scrutiny following allegations of insufficient transparency regarding redevelopment plans for the Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court in London—a matter of growing interest within the UK property and mortgage sectors.
As reported in The Sun, Matthew Pennycook, the Housing Minister, is the subject of a formal inquiry from Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake. The inquiry centres on the disclosure of architectural plans for the embassy site, a significant property transaction in the capital. It has emerged that certain technical drawings, particularly those relating to the basement, have been withheld from public view, raising questions about the planning process and the accessibility of information for stakeholders.
Mr Pennycook previously assured Parliament that all documentation relating to the application was available on the Tower Hamlets planning portal. However, subsequent correspondence from the Government, dated 6 August, acknowledged that some designs had been redacted on security grounds and requested that the Chinese authorities consider releasing the unedited plans.
The controversy has been compounded by longstanding concerns regarding the nature of the unmarked basement rooms, the inclusion of a tunnel, airlocks, and vertical access points between buildings. Such features have prompted speculation about the intended use of the space, with Mr Hollinrake warning in his letter that the underground zone could potentially be used for intelligence operations or activities detrimental to individuals residing in the United Kingdom.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has responded to the allegations, stating that the claims are inaccurate and that there is no record requiring correction.
The episode is a reminder, arguably an embarrassing one for the Government, of the importance of transparency in major planning applications, particularly those involving sensitive sites or overseas stakeholders.
The Chinese Embassy has been given until next week to respond to requests for greater disclosure.
Who is Matthew Pennycook?
- Matthew Pennycook is a senior Labour politician and the current Minister of State for Housing and Planning, a role he assumed in July 2024 under Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Greenwich and Woolwich since 2015, succeeding Nick Raynsford, and is recognised for his expertise in housing policy and his commitment to social justice .
- Born in Hammersmith in 1982 and raised in South London by a single mother, Mr Pennycook attended local state schools before becoming the first in his family to attend university. He read History and International Relations at the London School of Economics, graduating with first-class honours, and later completed an MPhil at Balliol College, Oxford
- Since his election to Parliament, Mr Pennycook has held a range of shadow and ministerial positions, including Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Shadow Minister for Brexit. He is known for his detailed work on housing legislation, having tabled significant amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill and spoken frequently on the challenges of housing affordability and supply.
