Watchdog backs Rogers design in Charles row over barracks

THE Government's architecture watchdog is opposing Prince Charles's vision for the Chelsea Barracks development.

The influential body has publicly declared its support for Lord Rogers's modernist scheme in the £1billion project over the Prince's classical design alternative.

In a design review posted on its website, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment praised the strength and quality of Lord Rogers's scheme. It concludes by saying it supports the planning application to Westminster council currently under consideration.

It says: "We applaud the strength of the overarching principles of scheme and the high quality design of the individual blocks and fully support the planning application."

It is a setback for the Prince's alternative designs, by architect Quinlan Terry, which he was hoping to impress upon the Qatari developers working with Nick and Christian Candy on the site.

Charles has said he wants the owner and main backer, the Emir of Qatar, to scrap the modernist glass-and-steel development in favour of Terry's more traditional design plan.

The debate has been growing this week after Charles risked sparking a diplomatic row by writing directly to the Emir to convince him to abandon the proposed development by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners.

It has emerged Westminster council's deputy leader, Robert Davis, has given his backing to the royal scheme in a private letter to Qatari Diar, investor in the developers' consortium, Project Blue.

Mr Davis called on the investors to adopt the rival scheme and, in an interview with Building Design magazine, said: "I personally like the Quinlan Terry style of architecture and I think it's appropriate for Westminster. Some of my colleagues don't take that view.

"Because of the controversy it is important to have this debate."

Evening Standard reported yesterday how one of Boris Johnson's most senior aides has also backed the Prince. Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor for policing, and Assembly member for the area, said: "I have been opposing the design for some time, and the heir to the throne is a welcome addition to the campaign.

"The proposals by Candy and Candy are nothing short of urban vandalism. Pavilions of glass and steel, they would not look out of place in Frankfurt or Shanghai but in the heart of Chelsea, next to a Wren masterpiece [the Royal Hospital], they look monstrous."

Cabe advises contractors, planners and public agencies on how best to design buildings and open spaces. It is chaired by Sir John Sorell, a former head of the Design Council and part of the operations committee for the 2012 Olympics.

While its review backed Lord Rogers's plans, it suggested the landscape design required more work and that three lower residential "pavilions" were out of place, saying: "the difference of architectural treatment compared with the main blocks is too great".