Chelsea Barracks - The People and The Prince vs Modernists'

The People and The Prince vs The Modernists' Chelsea Barracks was a British Army barracks located in the City of Westminster, London, adjacent to Chelsea, on Chelsea Bridge Road. The barracks was originally built in the 1860s to house two battalions of troops. The original Victorian buildings were long brick structures broken by towers in the centre. These buildings were replaced by two 13-storey concrete tower blocks in the 1960s. The tower blocks were used to accommodate four companies from the Guards Regiments. On 6 September 2005 Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, announced that Chelsea Barracks would be sold. The barracks is in one of London's most expensive residential areas and was originally expected to sell for £250m. In April 2007 the Ministry of Defence agreed to sell Chelsea Barracks in its 12.8 acres site for £959 million to a consortium consisting of Qatari Diar and the CPC Group. Westminster City Council claim that the participation by the Prince has encouraged healthy public debate. Squire and Partners, with Dixon Jones and landscape designer Kim Wilkie, have been selected by Qatari Diar to create a master plan for Chelsea Barracks.