CPC boss describes how architect refused to make changes requested by the London mayor

Christian Candy spoke yesterday about Lord Rogers鈥� reaction to Boris Johnson鈥檚 requests to make changes to the Chelsea Barracks scheme.

Candy, who was giving evidence in a court case in which he is suing Qatari Diar for 拢81m for breach of contract, described Rogers Stirk Harbour as 鈥減recious鈥� about their design.

Candy made the comment when asked by Qatari Diar鈥檚 barrister about the practical problems the developers faced when Johnson raised concerns about a 鈥渞elentless uniformity鈥� of the design.

He said: 鈥� [鈥 they don鈥檛 like their buildings designed on mass by people. They are the architects, they are the designers. And Rogers are very precious about the designs they do, and therefore are willing to listen to their clients but are not willing to be told by their clients of exactly the changes that then they have to make.鈥�

Candy, who spoke to Rogers on at least two occasions about Johnson鈥檚 concerns, said Rogers had been willing to make some adjustments to the rear of Chelsea Bridge Road but he refused to alter the front elevation.

Candy asserted in court that he always believed the Rogers design would have gained planning consent, even after with the mayor鈥檚 reservations and Prince Charles鈥� interventions.

He argued that withdrawing the planning application was 鈥渘ot the right route鈥�.

He said: 鈥淚f you weren鈥檛 politically sensitive [鈥and you weren鈥檛 affected by the Prince of Wales or the Qatari royals, what I would have done in this situation is banked the planning consent and then go back and revise it afterwards.鈥�

CPC, owned by Candy, had a sale and purchase agreement with Qatari Diar, which it argues entitled it to a deferred protected consideration of upto 拢81m if the planning application for Chelsea Barracks was withdrawn.

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