Candy wins London property battle

Candy wins London property battle

Qatari backed property company loses out in the British High Court.

June 26, 2010 12:30 by Samuel Potter

Christian Candy has won his High Court battle against Qatari Diar, reports the Financial Times.

Candy’s CPC property developer sued the real estate firm over the withdrawal of plans for the now infamous Chelsea barrack in London, claiming breach of contract. CPC claimed that Prince Charles has personally intervened in the project, expressing his dislike of the 3 billion pound development to the Emir of Qatar.

In his ruling, the judge described the intervention by Prince Charles as “unexpected and unwelcome.”

Mr Justice Vos ruled that QD and CPC were faced with a “very difficult position” once the Prince intervened in March 2009. He added that QD had withdrawn the planning application in breach of the existing agreement but that it was “not obliged” to make a £68.5m payment to CPC, says the paper. Candy can now seek a further hearing on damages.

The Royal Institute of British Architects said the case highlighted “the inappropriate behind-the-scenes methods used by The Prince of Wales” to object to the scheme.