Chelsea Barracks plans get greener and leaner

THESE are the first images of the new plans for Britain's most expensive housing development.

Property tycoons Nick and Christian Candy have scaled back the Chelsea Barracks project to calm growing public opposition.

Westminster council bosses had ordered them to change plans for the 13-acre site so that it would include a park and avoid damaging local views.

The barracks project will have 640 flats, half private and half affordable housing. It is by developer Project Blue Guernsey, a joint venture between the Candy Brothers' CPC Group and Qatari Diar, the investment arm of the Qatari royal family.

Project Blue Guernsey paid almost £1 billion last year for the site - four times the sum expected by the Ministry of Defence. Under the new plans, Blue Guernsey promises to:

●Remove some of the private blocks to create a 1.3-acre public open space.

●Reduce the height of some private blocks overlooking the open space.

●Reduce the height of the affordable housing from a maximum 13 storeys to 10, to reduce the loss of light that will be suffered by neighbouring terraces.

●Open up the view of St Barnabas Church spire.

●Create a landscaped garden with works of art.

James Wright, chairman of Belgravia Residents' Association, which led the attack on the original plans, said: "These changes take us a very long way down the right road. My members will wish to inspect the details closely and have more positive input before the final application is submitted. But we appreciate being properly consulted this time and are pleased our concerns have been largely addressed."

The developers are expected to submit the amended planning application next month and hope to have permission by the spring. They want the project to be finished by the end of 2013, but it is likely to come under pressure in the worsening economic climate.

Last month the Candys suffered two big setbacks: they were forced to pull out of the flagship redevelopment of The Middlesex Hospital north of Oxford Street, and defaulted on a $365 million (£221.2 million) loan for prime land bought last year in Beverly Hills.

Qatari Diar refused to comment on the financial implications of the new barracks plan, but chief executive Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad said: "In recent weeks we have been taking soundings from our neighbours at Chelsea Barracks. We have responded with design changes we are confident address all our stakeholders' concerns.

"Candy & Candy ... will continue to work closely on development management, branding, marketing and interior design of Chelsea Barracks." Christian Candy said: "We are looking forward to creating a landmark development of international repute."

One remaining area of contention is a military chapel that is the only surviving element of the Victorian barracks. It has been deconsecrated, but English Heritage recommends it be listed.