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Camden blocks Christian Candy's plan to turn road into private garden Camden blocks Christian Candy's plan to turn road into private garden
(about 2 hours later)
Billionaire property developer Christian Candy’s hopes of annexing a strip of road to create a private garden for his 15-bedroom Regent’s Park mansion in central London have been thrown out by Camden council. Billionaire property developer Christian Candy’s hopes of annexing a strip of road to create a private garden for his Regent’s Park mansion in central London have been thrown out by Camden council.
The rejection is a surprise setback for the controversial tycoon, who said he would appeal against the decision. Officers at the council had recommended the proposals be approved by the planning committee, which met on Wednesday night.The rejection is a surprise setback for the controversial tycoon, who said he would appeal against the decision. Officers at the council had recommended the proposals be approved by the planning committee, which met on Wednesday night.
Candy’s plans would have removed an entire road lane and scrapped up to nine parking spaces to make way for a 400 sq metre garden and private entrance to his home. The work involved transplanting railings and lampposts in one of London’s most important conservation areas.Candy’s plans would have removed an entire road lane and scrapped up to nine parking spaces to make way for a 400 sq metre garden and private entrance to his home. The work involved transplanting railings and lampposts in one of London’s most important conservation areas.
The plans were fiercely opposed by local residents, pitting the developer best known for creating the super-luxe One Hyde Park apartment complex in Knightsbridge against a group of influential neighbours, including doctors, surgeons, entrepreneurs, university professors and the psychiatrist and broadcaster Raj Persaud.The plans were fiercely opposed by local residents, pitting the developer best known for creating the super-luxe One Hyde Park apartment complex in Knightsbridge against a group of influential neighbours, including doctors, surgeons, entrepreneurs, university professors and the psychiatrist and broadcaster Raj Persaud.
Neighbour Michael Weber praised the result, saying residents were “absolutely delighted”. The 12-member panel, led by councillor Heather Johnson, rejected the scheme by 10 votes. One member abstained and one voted in favour.Neighbour Michael Weber praised the result, saying residents were “absolutely delighted”. The 12-member panel, led by councillor Heather Johnson, rejected the scheme by 10 votes. One member abstained and one voted in favour.
Candy holds a 150-year lease on Chester Gate, a private road that borders seven listed houses designed by the regency architect John Nash, which he bought in 2014 and plans to knock together into a £200m private residence. Candy holds a 150-year lease on Chester Gate, a private road that borders seven listed houses designed by the regency architect John Nash, which he bought in 2014. He has planning permission to knock them together into a family home and two other residences in a development said to be worth £200m.
His firm CPC London, which is developing the site, had claimed the new design would “reinstate a historic garden” in keeping with the original design. The ordinance survey map of 1875 shows a green space where Candy hoped to build one, but planning officers found it had not been designed by Nash or created during his lifetime.His firm CPC London, which is developing the site, had claimed the new design would “reinstate a historic garden” in keeping with the original design. The ordinance survey map of 1875 shows a green space where Candy hoped to build one, but planning officers found it had not been designed by Nash or created during his lifetime.
Camden received 45 letters of objection. Residents dug up pictures from the 1800s that showed during Nash’s time the land in question was occupied by pavement and a narrow strip of railings. They commissioned a report from the Oxford university professor Geoffrey Tyack, a world expert on Nash.Camden received 45 letters of objection. Residents dug up pictures from the 1800s that showed during Nash’s time the land in question was occupied by pavement and a narrow strip of railings. They commissioned a report from the Oxford university professor Geoffrey Tyack, a world expert on Nash.
He concluded: “What is being proposed now is not a reinstatement of a garden designed by John Nash, or even of the Victorian garden indicated in the 1875 Ordnance Survey map – which was significantly narrower than the garden now proposed – but the creation of a new private garden through the appropriation of space that has been within the public domain for all but a few of the past 190 years.”He concluded: “What is being proposed now is not a reinstatement of a garden designed by John Nash, or even of the Victorian garden indicated in the 1875 Ordnance Survey map – which was significantly narrower than the garden now proposed – but the creation of a new private garden through the appropriation of space that has been within the public domain for all but a few of the past 190 years.”
Tyack condemned the design as “imposing a spurious version of a garden that never existed on a historic and much-valued urban landscape that has been preserved and maintained over many generations”.Tyack condemned the design as “imposing a spurious version of a garden that never existed on a historic and much-valued urban landscape that has been preserved and maintained over many generations”.
Neighbours also claimed reducing the road from two lanes to one could lead to traffic gridlock and create an enclave for drug dealers and antisocial behaviour. A spokesman for the objectors described the garden proposals as about “personal gain” and benefiting only one person “at the expense and inconvenience of thousands”.Neighbours also claimed reducing the road from two lanes to one could lead to traffic gridlock and create an enclave for drug dealers and antisocial behaviour. A spokesman for the objectors described the garden proposals as about “personal gain” and benefiting only one person “at the expense and inconvenience of thousands”.
The battle with Camden council is the latest legal complication for Candy. Earlier this summer, Christian and his brother Nick Candy were accused of tax evasion and blackmail in a bruising £130m high court battle with a former business associate. They deny the claims.The battle with Camden council is the latest legal complication for Candy. Earlier this summer, Christian and his brother Nick Candy were accused of tax evasion and blackmail in a bruising £130m high court battle with a former business associate. They deny the claims.
The case exposed their financial affairs to unprecedented scrutiny. After years of living as a tax exile in Monaco, Christian Candy’s barrister told the court his client was now tax resident in Britain. It was revealed that the Chester Gate properties were in fact held in his wife’s name. Candy is married to Emily Crompton, a former girlfriend of Prince Charles’s stepson Tom Parker Bowles.The case exposed their financial affairs to unprecedented scrutiny. After years of living as a tax exile in Monaco, Christian Candy’s barrister told the court his client was now tax resident in Britain. It was revealed that the Chester Gate properties were in fact held in his wife’s name. Candy is married to Emily Crompton, a former girlfriend of Prince Charles’s stepson Tom Parker Bowles.
CPC London responded to Camden’s verdict saying: “We are extremely disappointed with this decision. Camden council’s rejection of the proposal, which seeks to bring additional green space to London, defies logic. The proposal had been fully supported by the council’s own planning officers. Camden council have not yet provided reasons for their decision, which we will appeal through the inspectorate.”CPC London responded to Camden’s verdict saying: “We are extremely disappointed with this decision. Camden council’s rejection of the proposal, which seeks to bring additional green space to London, defies logic. The proposal had been fully supported by the council’s own planning officers. Camden council have not yet provided reasons for their decision, which we will appeal through the inspectorate.”