Chelsea Barracks
Encyclopedia
Chelsea Barracks was a British Army
barracks
located in the City of Westminster
, London
, adjacent to Chelsea
, on Chelsea Bridge Road
.
A nail-bomb attack on the barracks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
in September 1981 killed two civilians.
, John Reid
, announced that Chelsea Barracks would be sold. He described it as needing extensive renovations. The site was vacated in 2008 with the troops transferred to the Royal Artillery Barracks
at Woolwich
. The site was part of the Ministry of Defence
's MODeL project that saw it and five other sites across London sold off, mainly for housing.
Westminster City Council
published its draft planning brief for the Chelsea Barracks site in September 2006. It included a commitment to develop 50% of the site with affordable housing. A Community Forum was established by local residents in April 2006 with the support of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton
MP, to campaign for greater transparency in the sale of the barracks site and for the 50% affordable homes commitment to be realised.
and the CPC Group
. The Times reported that "The enclave, between Sloane Square
and the River Thames
, now has the unofficial title of Britain’s most expensive residential development site at £70.3m per acre." On February 1, 2008 the Candy brothers
took possession of the site. Different design proposals for development of the site have been put forward by Richard Rogers
and by Charles, Prince of Wales
. Westminster City Council claim that the participation by the Prince has encouraged healthy public debate. Squire and Partners
, with Dixon Jones and landscape designer Kim Wilkie, have been selected by Qatari Diar to create a master plan for Chelsea Barracks.
In May 2010 some of the developers made a £81m claim at the High Court, blaming Prince Charles for the withdrawal of a planning application.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
located in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, adjacent to Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, on Chelsea Bridge Road
Chelsea Bridge Road
Chelsea Bridge Road is the modern eastern boundary of Chelsea, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
.
History
The barracks was originally built in the 1860s to house two battalions of troops. The original Victorian buildings were replaced by a series of concrete tower blocks after World War 2.A nail-bomb attack on the barracks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
in September 1981 killed two civilians.
Development of the site
On 6 September 2005 Secretary of State for DefenceSecretary of State for Defence
The Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position...
, John Reid
John Reid (politician)
John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, PC is a British politician, who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament and cabinet minister under Tony Blair, most notably as Defence Secretary and then Home Secretary...
, announced that Chelsea Barracks would be sold. He described it as needing extensive renovations. The site was vacated in 2008 with the troops transferred to the Royal Artillery Barracks
Royal Artillery Barracks
The Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in South East London is the "home" of the Royal Artillery. It is famous for having the longest continuous building facade in the UK as well as for having the largest parade square of any UK barracks.-History:...
at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. The site was part of the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
's MODeL project that saw it and five other sites across London sold off, mainly for housing.
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council is the local authority for the City of Westminster in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council and is entitled to be known as a city council, which is a rare distinction in the United Kingdom. The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing three councillors...
published its draft planning brief for the Chelsea Barracks site in September 2006. It included a commitment to develop 50% of the site with affordable housing. A Community Forum was established by local residents in April 2006 with the support of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton
John Hutton (Labour MP)
John Matthew Patrick Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria from 1992 to 2010, and has served in a number of Cabinet offices, including Defence Secretary and Business Secretary...
MP, to campaign for greater transparency in the sale of the barracks site and for the 50% affordable homes commitment to be realised.
2007 sale
The barracks is in one of London's most expensive residential areas and was originally expected to sell for £250m. In April 2007 the Ministry of Defence agreed to sell Chelsea Barracks in its 12.8 acres (5.2 ha) site for £959 million to a consortium consisting of Qatari DiarQatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority is Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, specializing in domestic and foreign investment. It was founded in 2005 to manage the oil and natural gas surpluses by the Government of Qatar...
and the CPC Group
Christian and Nick Candy
Christian Candy and Nick Candy are British businessmen specialising in the luxury housing market. They were educated in Epsom College . In 1995, the brothers bought their first property, a one-bedroom flat in Redcliffe Square, Earls Court, London...
. The Times reported that "The enclave, between Sloane Square
Sloane Square
Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the fashionable London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, located southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The square is part of the Hans Town area designed in 1771 by Henry...
and the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, now has the unofficial title of Britain’s most expensive residential development site at £70.3m per acre." On February 1, 2008 the Candy brothers
Christian and Nick Candy
Christian Candy and Nick Candy are British businessmen specialising in the luxury housing market. They were educated in Epsom College . In 1995, the brothers bought their first property, a one-bedroom flat in Redcliffe Square, Earls Court, London...
took possession of the site. Different design proposals for development of the site have been put forward by Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
and by Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
. Westminster City Council claim that the participation by the Prince has encouraged healthy public debate. Squire and Partners
Squire and Partners
is a major UK-based architectural practice, founded by Michael Squire in 1976.There are approximately 100 employees in the practice, including over 70 architects and architectural assistants, supported by dedicated teams for computer visualisation, illustration and modelmaking...
, with Dixon Jones and landscape designer Kim Wilkie, have been selected by Qatari Diar to create a master plan for Chelsea Barracks.
2009 withdrawal
In early June 2009, the developers, Qatari Diar withdrew their plan to build 552 flats in 17 blocks.In May 2010 some of the developers made a £81m claim at the High Court, blaming Prince Charles for the withdrawal of a planning application.