Prince Charles victorious as developers drop plans for steel tower at old London army barracks

Prince Charles victorious over army barracks plan

LONDON — Developers who wanted to build a glass-and-steel tower on the site of a former army barracks in London said Friday they have abandoned their plans in the face of opposition from Prince Charles.

The Qatari royal family is funding the redevelopment of the Chelsea Barracks through the company Project Blue (Guernsey) Ltd., and had hired architect Richard Rogers to design a modern tower on the site.

British media reported that Charles contacted the Qatari royal family to persuade them to back a more traditional building. The barracks are situated next to Royal Hospital Chelsea, a classical building designed by Christopher Wren, the renowned 17th century architect who also designed St. Paul’s Cathedral and other London landmarks.

Project Blue said in a statement Friday that it had withdrawn its planning application for the site and that it would now work with Prince Charles’ architectural charity, The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, to draw up new plans.

Rogers said it is “extremely disappointing that this application has been withdrawn in response to Prince Charles’ views.”

Prince Charles has long condemned modern architecture as a scourge destroying Britain’s heritage and has clashed with several architects who say he should not use his royal connections to influence planning decisions.

Charles’ Clarence House office said it would not comment on the development but Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation said it will advise the developers on how to involve the local community in the new plans.