Property tycoon Christian Candy has bought up £75million of property in a luxury development in the heart of Chelsea, despite being embroiled in a legal battle over the project just over ten years ago.
The site of the former Chelsea Barracks, in west London, had been originally purchased by Christian, his brother Nick and Qatar in 2007 for £959million.
The plan had been to turn the former Ministry of Defence site into a £3billion luxury apartment complex – but this idea was scrapped by the Candy’s after Prince Charles complained about the ‘awful’ design of the proposed development.
According to reports, the Qataris withdrew their planning application in favor of a traditional design.
Property tycoon Christian Candy (pictured in 2019 with his wife Emily) purchased £75million of flats in the luxury Chelsea Barracks development, despite being embroiled in a legal battle over the project just over ten years ago
The site (pictured) of the former Chelsea Barracks, in west London, had been originally purchased by Christian, his brother Nick and Qatar in 2007 for £959million
Pictured is an interior view of one the flats in the Chelsea Barracks development. Christian Candy bought the property last year.
In 2010, the Candy brothers sued the Qataris, with their lawyer accusing them of engaging in’scandalous behaviour’. However, they settled the matter outside court.
The plans were redesigned without the involvement of their representatives.
Qatari Diar was the property arm for the sovereign Qatar fund and owned the project.
The Times reports now that Christian Candy purchased several units within the development despite their previous legal dispute.
Spending up to £75million across a number of properties inside the complex – allegedly receiving a slight discount on some of them – Christian Candy has reportedly purchased six flats of varying prices.
Photo of the Candy brothers together. In 2010 they sought legal action against Qataris over their development. The lawyer claimed that the Qataris had acted in a’scandalous manner’ after the application was withdrawn following complaints from Prince Charles.
The plans were redesigned and proceeded without their participation. Qatari Diar, the property arm the sovereign wealth of Qatar owned the project.
Photo: A second view from the interior of one of our flats during the Chelsea Barracks Redevelopment
Candy may be using some apartments he bought for himself and his family while renting others.
The Times was told by a source that these purchases were a “stamp to approval” for the new development.
MailOnline reached out to representatives from Christian Candy and Qatari Diar for comments.
The move comes just a year after plans were submitted by the billionaire for a 424-square-metre living room and dining space, along with Roman-style columns in the front, at his Surrey residence near Egham.
For the sunshine to flood in the room, he would like it to have domed roof lighting at the top.
French windows offer a view of the vast, landscaped gardens that Mr Candy has created.
It is the latest in a series of grand redevelopments of his £150million estate, which has been dubbed ‘Candyland’.
The four properties were purchased by the property tycoon and his spouse, Lady Emily Crompton Candy. They created a vast estate for their two children, Isabella and Cayman, who are eight years old.
In May, he submitted new plans to Runnymede Borough Council. He hopes there will not be any complaints from angry neighbors like with previous developments.
An earlier application was submitted by Mr Candy for a plan to construct a lounge area and dining room measuring 424 square metres.
This extension is for a five-bedroom guest house that connects to the main house via an underground tunnel.
It is being proposed that the building be designed as ‘neoclassical’. Mr Candy wants to obtain permission to remove plans for a garage and outhouse.
This was the latest development in the long history of Candyland’s redevelopments.
This year, the billionaire was given permission to build a tunnel of 20 meters that will allow access from his home to an underground car museum, dance studio, and wine cellar.
It is the latest in a series of grand redevelopments of his £150million estate in Egham, which has been dubbed ‘Candyland’
Another 60-metre tunnel connects this to his guest cottage, which is located on the grand estate.
The underground museum that can house 57 motors was approved by Mr Candy last year.
The property mogul developed a fortune of more than £600million after starting out in property management with his older brother Nick.
The brothers began renovating flats in their spare time between 1995 and 1999 and are now thought to be worth more than £1.5billion.
Christian Candy received the go-ahead to build a tunnel measuring 65 feet (pictured), which will allow him to access his luxurious pad from an underground car museum, dance studio, and wine cellar.
They started with a one-bedroom flat in Earl’s Court, London, which they bought with the help of a loan from their grandmother before selling it for a £50,000 profit.
Following several years of success, the brothers were then able to give up their day jobs and established their property business Candy & Candy in 1999.
Most famous is the One Hyde Park luxury apartment building in Knightsbridge.
A large selection of private and luxury super-yachts as well as private jets are also owned by the brothers.