Clarence House denies Charles vetted lists of architects
CLARENCE HOUSE has strongly denied claims that the Prince of Wales has vetted shortlists of architects for major developers keen to avoid royal disapproval.
Lord Rogers of Riverside, one of the key figures behind the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Lloyd’s building in London, makes the accusation in his memoirs and said one un-named developer told him consulting Charles was “one way we can minimise risk”. In response to the claims made in the book A
Place for All People, Clarence House said: “Developers do not seek design approval from the Prince of Wales as he does not, and cannot, grant planning permission.”
Modernist architect Lord Rogers saw his designs for the Chelsea Barracks site come to nothing when the project’s planning application was withdrawn in 2009 following a direct intervention by Charles.
The heir to the throne wrote to the chairman of Qatari Diar, the real estate investment company behind the scheme, urging him to consider alternatives to the modern design created by Lord Rogers’ firm of architects.
The architect said in his memoirs: “After the Chelsea Barracks scheme, I asked eight major developers whether they consulted Prince Charles about architects or designs.
“Only one of them said he actually showed the prince their designs but five others said they consulted St James’s Palace about a shortlist of architects, to check who would be seen as acceptable to the prince.
“As one said to me, ‘We’re in the risk business and consulting with St James’s Palace is one way we can minimise risk’.”
Lord Rogers’ design views are at odds with those of the prince, who has championed traditional approaches to architecture for decades and created his development Poundbury in Dorset based on his long-held beliefs.
Charles famously described a proposed extension for the National Gallery as “a monstrous carbuncle” in the 1980s.
Clarence House added: “The prince regularly receives letters from members of the public c omplaining about a variety of developments and planning decisions.
“This is why his interest in the built environment goes beyond individual developments and architectural styles to encouraging a sense of community and improving the quality of people’s lives overall.”