Barracks in Knightsbridge For Sale

[Jaeger]

Originally Posted by vectra5286

Thanks for that Jaeger

To demonstrate how ludicrous the current situation is they have had to construct temporary Cavalry Stables at Wellington Barracks (Home to the Guards Regiments) on Birdcage Walk in order to house the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery who are now based at Woolwich, due to the shortage of cavalry horse stables in Central London and the fact that Woolwich is too far away to preform Ceremonial Duties from.

Woodhouse creates temporary barracks



http://www.access-aa.co.uk/news/2012...-barracks.aspx

Woodhouse Show and Event Specialists has designed, manufactured and installed 90 temporary stables for use by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at their Wellington Barracks.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery has left their St Johns Wood Barracks after 65 years and has moved to a purpose built equestrian training facility in the Woolwich Garrison.

The Woolwich Garrison is too far from central London to be a practical base for the King’s Troop when making ceremonial appearances, so Woodhouse successfully tendered for and was contracted to design and build temporary stables to fit within and maximize the covered car park area at Wellington Barracks. The stables will be used by the Troop's horses when making ceremonial appearances at nearby venues including Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace and dismantled when not in use.

Peter Cook, general manager at Woodhouse, said: “This was a fantastic project to be involved in, and one which required a great deal of knowledge and technical expertise due to the limited space available in Wellington Barracks. They were designed to be assembled quickly by the Troop personnel and then dismantled and stored on site when not in use. We worked closely with the Kings Troop to ensure that the project was completed on time and to the exact specification, and everyone was delighted with the result.”

I have heard they might be building a new barracks over the other side of Hyde Park. Typically the MoD is in the process of refurbishing Peninsula Tower at the Barracks, and the barracks were largely refurbished back in 2006, so another monumental waste of tax payers money. Penninsula Tower is currently being refurbished and has not been used for some years due to it being in a poor state of repair, as for the married and family quarters they moved out several years ago, and are now spread across MOD properties in London at places such Victoria, Putney, Regents Park, Windsor, Chobham etc.

In the meantime there are rumours that some of the horses may well be moved to Hounslow Barracks (an old Cavalry Barracks not far from Heathrow Airport), whilst some limited stabling is also available at Horse Guards (Old Scotland Yard) in Whaitehall and the Royal Mews (although this is now open to tourists so wouldn't be feasible as a permanent working barracks). Temporary stabling may also still be needed with some horses being stabled at Wellington Barracks including the Royal Horse Artillery which has superb new facilities at Napier Lines at Woolwich, the trouble being it's due to far away to be practicle for a lot of ceremonial duties (hence the temporary stables). There is also the possibility of trying to extend Wellington Barracks in the meantime in order to try and meet some of this extra demand.

A central cavalry barracks is a must if occasions like Trooping the Colour, The State Opening of Parliament and an array of other events are too pass off smoothly, and the logistics of moving hundreds of horses from Hounslow, Windsor and Woolwich would be a nightmare. In terms of Albany Street Barracks (Regents Park) it is home to Special Forces as well as 20 Transport Squadron, RLC and is the Regimental HQ of the Queen's Royal Hussars, but there have also been rumours regarding it's future, including a possible sale, and the moving of these units elsewhere.

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/n..._plan/?ref=rss

http://www.hlmarchitects.com/project...nslow-barracks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hounslow_Heath

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/06...ROKCLFINAL.pdf

New Cavalry Barracks - Kings Own Horse Artillery - Napier Lines, Woolwich. Something similar in Central London (Hyde Park Area) would be ideal.

Originally Posted by Scott Brownrigg Architects

Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Woolwich.

Services: Masterplanning, architecture, planning, CDM-C

http://www.scottbrownrigg.com/projec...lery_woolwich/

The new 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) 'carbon minus' home for the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich provides stabling and full support facilities for 170 horses as well as provision for the troop’s history gun carriages. Sustainability has been the driving feature of the BREEAM 'Excellent' development, which incorporates a ground-breaking biomass plant, the first of its kind in the country, using renewable energy derived from horse manure and bedding to produce sufficient bio-fuel to supply the needs of the development, it also allows surplus fuel to be exported off-site, making it truly ‘carbon minus’. In addition the development includes solar chimneys which provide natural stack ventilation to the horse stables; rainwater harvesting which provides large volumes of water for general use in the stables, and reduces water use throughout the site; and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) which manage surface water drainage on site including soakaways. The development incorporates extensive equine training facilities. These include an indoor training school and viewing gallery, regimental offices, museum, gun park, forge, a ménage and canter track and a forming-up area for the mounted troop and gun carriages.

[Jaeger]

The MoD has now officially confirmed Project Rose and that any potential developer will have to build a replacement barracks and stables within the Central London Area


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...f-7834244.html

After the Jubilee Parade – Household Cavalry saying goodbye to Hyde Park
By Brian Brady
The Independent
Monday, 11 June 2012

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/...-to-hyde-park/

Even as millions watched the Household Cavalry escorting the Queen down the Mall during last week’s Jubilee celebrations, officials at the Ministry of Defence were finalising controversial plans to banish the Royal regiment to the fringes of London in a break with hundreds of years of tradition.

The MoD has confirmed details of ‘Project Rose’, the plan to sell the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) barracks in Hyde Park – for anything up to £500m - and find a new home for them elsewhere in the capital.

The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR), which comprises The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals have historically had a base less than a mile from Buckingham Palace, to be on hand to deal with any emergencies besetting the monarch.

Yet the MoD is now looking for alternative homes for its mounted division up to 2.5 miles away from nearby Horse Guards Parade, where members of the regiment take part in the Changing of the Guard every day.

A ‘pre-tender’ document published by the department a day after the HCMR took part in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations last week, declares that the regiment’s new home should be “within 35 mins ride (walk pace) of Horse Guards Parade, assessed as a maximum of 4 km distance by road”.

The 33-storey residential block at the heart of the complex was once voted one of the ugliest buildings in Britain. But its prestigious position in one of London’s most expensive areas has made it a uniquely saleable asset for a department struggling to stay within tight Government spending limits.

The news comes just days after Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced details of the “transformation” of the British Army, which will see its strength slashed from 102,000 to 82,000 and a greater reliance on part time soldiers and ‘contractors’. He admitted: “Some units inevitably will be lost or will merge. But let me be clear, we value the history and the heritage because they deliver tangible military benefits in the modern British Army.”

Even as millions watched the HCMR, which provides ceremonial troops for all state occasions, escorting the Queen down the Mall during last week’s Jubilee celebrations, MoD officials at the Ministry of Defence were finalising controversial plans – codenamed ‘Project Rose’ – to free up their 1.4 hectares (3.4 acres) of prime land between Knightsbridge & Hyde Park.

Officials have made it clear that the move is driven by a desire to make money from the sale of the barracks. The document, circulated among potential developers, states: “The aim of the project is to develop a commercial solution that will provide sustainable infrastructure for the HCMR and at the same time creating revenue from the release of the [Hyde Park] site.”

Interested companies have been told to respond by next month [20 July] according to the document, which confirms the MoD’s intention of “relocating the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) from its current home of Hyde Park Barracks (HPB) to a new site in central London, which would then allow for the release of the HPB site”.

However, the MoD has warned would-be buyers that they will not be able to take over the present site until they have built a new home for the regiment elsewhere. Developers have been told that the site will need to be two hectares in size, large enough to house both an indoor and an outdoor riding school and “located within 1 km of park land, around which an all-weather horse exercise track will be required”.

The department has also raised the prospect of moving to an existing MoD site, potentially the Wellington Barracks or Regents Park Barracks, which would increase the profits raised from the deal.

Paul Howarth, of the MoD’s property and services provider, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), said: “We are constantly looking for ways of improving facilities for soldiers, but site limitations at Hyde Park Barracks restrict effective modernisation.

“We are considering options to address this and relocation of the HCMR is one option. It is essential that HCMR still remains in central London to enable participation in ceremonial and public duties.

Peter Burns, Executive Director at CBRE, which has been appointed as the MoD’s property advisor, said: “The opportunity that Hyde Park Barracks offers will generate interest from a wide variety of national and international developers. The market testing process is designed to help DIO formulate the most beneficial route to secure the goal of delivering best in class accommodation for the HCMR.”

Major General Sir Patrick Cordingley, Commander of the Desert Rats in the first Gulf War, said: “My initial reaction is that if you’re moving them four kilometres away that’s quite a hike in to carry out your ceremonial duties therefore one must assume the ceremonial duties will reduce in some respects and this is going to have a knock-on effect as far as tourism is concerned.

“My deep concern, my deep sadness is not actually a military one; it is purely a patriotic one of downgrading our ability to keep the tradition of this country going in London. It is being removed for the sake of quite a sizeable gain I’m quite certain but the knock-on effect as far as the traditions of this country are concerned is extremely sad, and particularly to announce it in the Jubilee year.”

Andy Smith, director of the UK National Defence Association, said: “This is the Government’s belated Jubilee message to Her Majesty: ‘We are moving your royal guards as far away from the royal palaces as we can get them!’

“It amounts to kicking out of their established home soldiers of the oldest and most revered regiments in the British army. It beggars belief that even this government, with its complete lack of empathy for the armed services or for British military traditions, could be cooking up an idiotic plan like this. It is an insult to soldiers past and present.

It also demonstrates that military funding priorities are being dictated by short-termism. It is nothing short of scandalous.”

Shadow Armed Forces Minister Kevan Jones said: “Just days after our armed forces have been showcased during jubilee celebrations the country will want assurances they are not losing out under a cost cutting exercise. We support modernisation but would be worried if new facilities were further away and less capable.”

[CKemahli]

Cavalry Horse Stables in Knightsbridge? Of course there is no logic to its location, firstly I think horsies really rather went out of fashion around 1900. I understand the need to have them for ceremonies as we saw just last week. But a billion pound + location in central london is not the most fitting environment, for a start, the need for the horses to get exercise means using Hyde Park, hardly ideal for these animals.

I was actually a member of the Barracks nursery as a child and remember fondly times spent in the building. However the tower block needs to come down, I am obviously in favour of high-rises being a member of such a forum but there is a time and positioning factor that was never taken into consideration with this building.

10 stories would be permissible with the large potential for council tax, I can see no problem in letting this head over to the Candys ala 1 Hyde Park, if this time they make a better job of it and not leave such a ghastly building in another prime site.

[Jaeger]

Originally Posted by CKemahli

Cavalry Horse Stables in Knightsbridge? Of course there is no logic to its location, firstly I think horsies really rather went out of fashion around 1900. I understand the need to have them for ceremonies as we saw just last week. But a billion pound + location in central london is not the most fitting environment, for a start, the need for the horses to get exercise means using Hyde Park, hardly ideal for these animals.

I have already explained as to why the horses need to be in Central London. The logistcs otherwise would be a nightmare and transport costs would in the end far out weigh simply investing in a Central Location location, which is what the MoD are planning to do. A lot of Ceremonial Rehearsals are actually carried out in the early hours of the morning and daily events such as the Changing of the Guard require nearby stabling, as do numerous ceremonial events. In terms of Hyde Park, the horses only use Hyde Park when they are on Ceremonial Duties in London, the other main Household Cavalry Barracks being Combermere Barracks at Windsor, which is sadly too far away to carry out ceremonial duties in London from.

Originally Posted by CKemahl

I was actually a member of the Barracks nursery as a child and remember fondly times spent in the building. However the tower block needs to come down, I am obviously in favour of high-rises being a member of such a forum but there is a time and positioning factor that was never taken into consideration with this building.

10 stories would be permissible with the large potential for council tax, I can see no problem in letting this head over to the Candys ala 1 Hyde Park, if this time they make a better job of it and not leave such a ghastly building in another prime site.

In terms of the Tower Block, I have a feeling that the twentieth century society and others may campaign to save the Tower, which has just been refurbished and was designed by Sir Basil Spence of Coventry Cathedral fame.

[Langur]

I was looking at the tower earlier today, and I think it's an excellent example of 60s/70s high-rise architecture. It has been refreshed, and looks as if it was built yesterday. It's probably second only to the Barbican and Centrepoint in terms of design, and is built of finer materials. I would strongly oppose its demolition. It's far more attractive than Robin Hood Gardens imo.

[hugh]

Long one of my favourite buildings, and a great example of British modernism, it'd be a shame to see it go. Any replacement would have to be exceptionally compelling.

[Citizen4O1]

Wonderfully informative posts jaeger. Thanks.

[delores]

the tower I agree is really good. Unfortunately the rest of the Barracks is abysmal I would not be sad to see this go.

[gravesVpelli]

well if it's just be cleaned it's unlikey to be pulled down. A pity. I disagree with all the earlier comments. I find it cheap, ugly and a concrete monstrosity with a ridiculously fussy and ugly crown. 1970s British architecture was by and large abysmal and this building was constructed in the wrong place. For park borders one should learn from New York's Central Park West if one is to build tall. I admit this is my own opinion. Did it receive any accolades?

[Dreamer]

I rather like it, it's got great proportions and could be easily updated. You'd never get anything like that height built there now so it's a gold mine.

[SkyScraperRaper]

It's butt ugly. A tower of brown concrete. Arghhh!

It's in Knightsbridge........Knightsbridge is supposed to be a wealthy place........this tower bleeds poverty.

[Gemma Warner]

It looks sprucer now they've cleaned it up, but it still has that dreary 60s/70s "Nelson Mandela House" feel to it. I would have preferred a recladding to make it more appropriate for the location.

[hambledon]

I think this is a slender and elegant tower. It is actually brown brick not brown concrete.
I think that a re-clad would bulk out and destroy a good 70's design and make it like every other trendy modern tower,you know,coloured patchwork panels and loads of glass.
I won't cry if it goes but I like the fact that it adds to the variety of towers from different decades along with,for example, Centre Point and Tower 42.

[Dreamer]

Originally Posted by hambledon

I think this is a slender and elegant tower. It is actually brown brick not brown concrete.
I think that a re-clad would bulk out and destroy a good 70's design and make it like every other trendy modern tower,you know,coloured patchwork panels and loads of glass.
I won't cry if it goes but I like the fact that it adds to the variety of towers from different decades along with,for example, Centre Point and Tower 42.

Good point there Hamble

[LittleTex]

Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion but I personally think this tower is good, compared with most that went up in the area during the 60s/70s (note the Richard Seifert Holiday Inn Tower by Gloucester Rd Station).

The comments about the low rise buildings that flank the tower are surprising to me as I think are absolutely fantastic, if in need of a bit of a clean. I think they are some of the best examples of their era and representative of the architecture that came out of the Scottish schools in the mid 20th century (Basil Spence, Gillespie Kidd Coia, Robert Matthew, etc).





Think what you want of architecture from the period you cannot deny that detail and attention was taken in Knightsbridge Barracks design.

[Loathing]

I personally despise the low rise elements. They are riddled with deep, dark alcoves and overhangs, and other weird crevices that serve no purpose (in fact they detract from the functionality of the building, reducing the light levels of interior spaces). The overall effect is of a cross section of a termite hill.

[Langur]

Taken half an hour ago from my phone...

image hosted on flickr

[Bowater]

Originally Posted by Langur

If deficit spending in a downturn was some kind of panacea, then Greece would be booming by now.

Somewhat off subject Langar but your signature makes no sense. If Greece was spending at the same levels as it was before the crisis then it would be growing. The only reason why Greece isn't is because they can't borrow the money to fuel the spending. Other countries can however borrow to spend, for example the USA and that's why the USA is growing strongly.

[Loathing]

It is not worth forgoing a healthy and safe debt level in return for short-term growth. Government deficit spending is an extremely risky business: if it goes wrong and backfires, the country ends up in Greece's position. That's the point of his signature.

[Langur]

Originally Posted by Bowater

Somewhat off subject Langar but your signature makes no sense. If Greece was spending at the same levels as it was before the crisis then it would be growing. The only reason why Greece isn't is because they can't borrow the money to fuel the spending. Other countries can however borrow to spend, for example the USA and that's why the USA is growing strongly.

Greece is still borrowing. They still have a large budget deficit (ie the state is spending more than it receives in taxes), and the rest must be borrowed. The difference between the US and Greece is that the US has control if its currency, which also happens to be the global reserve currency, meaning the US can borrow at lower rates. However that doesn't mean "problem solved". Recent US growth is not real imo. They're having to borrow too much to achieve it, and that will create problems down the line. Greece is uncompetitive at current exchange rates, yet it cannot devalue to regain competitiveness. Greece has no good options. It's basically being raped by being in the Eurozone. I think the whole crisis is one long drawn out proof that Keynesianism is wrong. Deficit spending isn't working anywhere.