Now Charles’ charity objects to Kensington Palace basement plan
WHEN Kate and Wills move back to Kensington Palace in the autumn, they must be looking forward to having more space, thanks to plans to rehouse palace staff in a £24 million basement extension.
But I can reveal there is now fierce opposition to the proposed development from an unexpected quarter — a conservation charity whose patron is Prince Charles.
The Georgian Group is against the plans, and says the ‘inappropriate’ basement, under the Grade I-listed Orangery in the grounds of the palace, should be scrapped.
The charity opposes those who show ‘ philistinism’ towards Georgian buildings, such as the 18th- century Orangery commissioned by Queen Anne.
This week — just days before Kensington and Chelsea council decides whether to give the subterranean staff quarters the go-ahead — the Georgian Group fired off a furious letter to the council, branding the English Heritage plan ‘unsightly’.
The charity says the three-level extension, including a two-storey basement where some staff will be rehoused to ‘free up the Palace suites for the Royal Family’, should be abandoned.
It suggests the 50-metre Orangery extension should be replaced with a ‘more modest’ single-storey building above ground.
The letter says: ‘ The Georgian Group recommends that the application is refused consent.’
The charity adds that it is ‘ not convinced’ by the need for more space for staff accommodation. The plans have received 17 further objections since they were submitted by Historic Royal Palaces in March. Residents have called the consultation ‘bogus’ and accuse the council of being ‘bedazzled by courtiers’, because two- storey basement excavations are usually banned in Kensington.
A spokesman for The Georgian Group says Prince Charles, a longtime critic of ‘carbuncle’ developments, ‘has no oversight of, or role within, our casework’. However, he was praised for his support at the charity’s ‘spirit of the age’ fancy dress party this month.
The Duke of Buccleuch, president of group, said at the bash: ‘I must make special mention of our Patron, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, whose deeply knowledgeable support is a constant source of encouragement.’