The Prince, The Barracks and Due Process
June 13, 2009
I read with incredulity that Prince Charles has intervened in the £1bn Chelsea Barracks scheme sparking fears that it could spiral into a political and diplomatic row. Putting aside the politics and what effect his intervention may have an Anglo-Qatari relations, I am concerned that a scheme that has been through the due planning process can be threatened by the intervention of the Prince. As many of us are aware, the Prince is an outspoken critic of modernist architecture, but until this week, he had not attempted to interfere with the planning process.
The proposal has been the subject of a year long public consultation process and during that time, the Prince could have made his representations to Westminster Council along with any other person. Whilst not everyone may agree with the Prince's views, we have a due process for their consideration and by side-stepping this sets in my opinion a dangerous precedent. The Queen has wisely refrained from entering into the public arena when it comes to architecture but do we believe her heir will do the same?
In defence of the Lord Rogers scheme at Chelsea Barracks, Ken Livingstone has urged Boris Johnson to speak out. He said "if world class architects think they or their designs are going to be subject of pressure from the heir to the British throne there is a danger we will lose the ability to attract them at all - which would be a recipe for excessive caution and mediocrity".
Is there a future for modern architecture and will the future heir demand the removal of buildings that don't fit the Neo-Classical bill?
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