The final designs for the amendments to ‘Phase 5’ of the long-running Chelsea Barracks development are to be unveiled at a public meeting tonight.

Property developers Qatari Diar are holding a residents meeting to show how they have altered the designs in response to feedback from two consultations earlier in the year.

The meeting will be held from 6-7pm at Retail Unit, Garrison Square, Chelsea Barracks, SW3W 8BG.

According to Qatari Diar, a key re-working of plans for ‘Phase 5’ includes replacing 20 grand townhouses – properties that would have sold for upwards of £50m – with 87 apartments to, they say, “provide a broader mix of housing types and better meet current housing needs”.

They plan to make this possible by increasing the heights of Blocks 12 and 13 by two storeys to create more apartments and fit in with new “safety and regulatory standards”. Qatari Diar has stated that the rise in height of the extensions have been “carefully designed and independently assessed” and claim that a survey of 43 surrounding residential properties by a specialist daylight and sunlight consultants has revealed that there will be no negative ‘right to light’ impact from the new height and massing of the blocks.

 

In response to the public calling for lighter materials on the buildings’ façades, the developer now plans to add stone transoms (horizontal crosspieces) below all balcony windows, instead of previously proposed metal detailing. The windows of Blocks 12 and 13 will also be enlarged to improve the aesthetic appearance of the apartment blocks. 

Other key changes will see Building No.14 lose its crescent shape and become rectangular, and the private gardens facing Garrison Square will be removed to improve permeability and street frontage.

Regarding traffic and parking, the new proposals will adopt a car-free approach to align with the London Plan and Westminster’s City Plan. To avoid adding pressure on the surrounding streets, all new Chelsea Barracks residents will be prohibited from obtaining Westminster parking permits. Basement parking will also be removed to reduce vehicle movements, thereby eliminating the need for ramps.

Qatari Diar has been forced into making dramatic changes to its consented Chelsea Barracks Masterplan because the super-prime housing market has evaporated in recent years, so it is feared that buyers for the previously proposed opulent stone town houses will not be found. Read The Citizen’s earlier report here.

As part of the deal to gain planning permission in 2012, Qatari Diar has already paid £78m to Westminster Council for its affordable housing fund.

In a statement, a spokesman of Qatari Diar said: ‘The presentation is intended to showcase the proposals that we will be submitting to Westminster City Council in their completed form, following the two distinct phases of consultation earlier this year, and to outline the next steps for the planning process, whilst responding to any further questions and comments from attendees.

‘Qatari Diar remain committed to maintaining open communication with the local community throughout the planning application period and beyond. All interested neighbours and stakeholders will be kept up to date as the project progresses, with the line of communication and consultation website remaining live throughout the determination period. 

‘In addition, neighbours will have the opportunity to share any formal comments on the plans through Westminster City Council’s statutory consultation once the application has been submitted.’

The Chelsea Barracks development, which has been in the building mixer since 2007,  has been made up on six phases. Phases 1-3 are complete and Phase 4 is in mid-construction. Phase 5 is unlikely to start until 2027 and not finish until July 2030. Phase 6 is not expected to be completed until 2033.

To secure your place at tonight’s meeting, email: cb5consultation@conciliocomms.com.