Architects criticise Prince Charles for intervening in planning application

Architects have hit out at the decision by the Qatari royal family's development business to withdraw its planning application for Chelsea Barracks, London's £1 billion super project.

The Royal Institute of British Architects described the whole saga as 'a colossal waste of effort, goodwill and expense' and President Sunan Prasad said it was sad that external pressures were behind the decision.

Clearly referring to a letter sent by the Prince of Wales to Qatari Diar, owners and developers of the site, he said; 'This decision clearly has more to with external pressure than the merits of the scheme and that is a sad turn of events in a painstakingly conducted planning process.'

He continued; 'I am all for HRH The Prince of Wales setting out his principles as regards sustainability and an architecture that connects with nature, but for him to intervene in individual schemes going through the planning process is quite wrong. However I do not see this as defeat for modern architecture; more a case of prince speaking unto prince.'

Lord Rogers, whose architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners designed the project also hit out at the Prince. He called for a committee to investigate and said the Prince Charles had broken a constitutional understanding by sending a private letter that clearly influenced the decision to withdraw the planning application while refusing to debate the issues publicly.

'After two-and-a-half years of extensive consultation with the local community and statutory consultees it is extremely disappointing that this application has been withdrawn in response to Prince Charles' views less than a week before the Council was due to consider it,' Lord Rogers added.

There is now doubt about the site being developed for many years to come, Lord Rogers said despite Qatari Diar saying it hoped to have another planning application ready by the end of the year.

A spokeswoman for Prince Charles declined to comment. But those who objected to the development welcomed the decision to withdraw the planning application and praised the Prince for taking a stance.

'We are all over the moon. We're the only group who has stood steadfast in the view that this design was not acceptable to this part of iconic London. It's all thanks to the profile Prince Charles gave to the development, and his concern about the capital city. His intervention was a noble act,' said Georgine Thorburn, chair of the Chelsea Barracks Action Group.