The government’s architecture watchdog CABE has backed Qatari Diar’s design for plans to redevelop Chelsea Barracks.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) said today that it welcomed the scheme, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, as ‘a successful response to the challenges of the site’.

‘We applaud the strength of the overarching principles of the scheme and the high quality design of the individual blocks and we fully support the planning application,’ it said.

‘However, we suggest that the team continues to develop the landscape design and reconsiders the treatment of the three pavilions.’
CABE’s support will be a boost for Qatari Diar following the news earlier this week that Prince Charles, in a private letter to Qatari Diar, has raised concerns about the design of the scheme and backed an alternative scheme designed by Quinlan Terry.

Its support of Chelsea Barracks was part of a wider list of design review comments released by CABE today.

It expressed concerns about a number of schemes including Development Securities’ Heart of Slough masterplan. CABE said : ‘We support the decision to civilise the A4 and recognise the pivotal role this will play in opening up the area.

'Our concern is the degree of ambiguity that remains in relation to the definition of a hierarchy of routes and the function and character of spaces across the study area but primarily in those areas leading from the train station across the A4 to the Church, and their relationship to the rest of the Town Centre.

‘Whilst the proposed masterplan shows promise, it does not, in our view accord with the principles set out in the development brief and it should not be permitted in its current form.’

CABE also did not support Tribal Urban Studio’s revised plans for a housing development at Fiddlers Reach in Thurrock Thames Gateway.

Topics