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.
The Qataris reportedly withdrew the planning application and produced a more 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: This is the interior to one of the many flats available in the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, which Christian Candy recently bought property in
As a result, the Candy brothers sought legal action in 2010, with their lawyer accusing the Qataris of ‘scandalous’ behaviour, before settling the matter out of court.
A redesigned version of the plans then went ahead without their involvement.
This time, Qatari Diar, the property arm of the sovereign fund of Qatar, owned the project outright.
However, The Times now reports that despite the previous legal battle, Christian Candy has purchased multiple units in the development.
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.
The Candy brothers (pictured together) sought legal action in 2010 over the development, with their lawyer accusing the Qataris of ‘scandalous’ behaviour for having withdrawn the planning application following complaints over the design by Prince Charles
A redesigned version of the plans then went ahead without their involvement. This time, Qatari Diar – the property arm of the sovereign fund of Qatar, owned the project outright
Pictured: Another view of the inside of one of the flats in the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment
It is believed that Candy is using the newly-purchased apartments for his family, while letting out some of the others.
A property source told The Times that the purchases represented a ‘stamp of approval’ in the redesigned development.
MailOnline has approached Qatari Diar and representatives of Christian Candy for comment.
It comes after earlier this year when the billionaire submitted plans for a 424 square metre lounge and dining room, with grand Roman-style columns at the front at his home near Egham, Surrey.
He wants the room to have domed roof lights at the top to allow sunshine to pour in.
The project is completed with French windows overlooking Mr Candy’s vast landscaped gardens.
It is the latest in a series of grand redevelopments of his £150million estate, which has been dubbed ‘Candyland’.
The property tycoon and his wife, the socialite Lady Emily Crompton Candy, bought the four properties surrounding his opulent house, to create a huge manor where they live with their twins Isabella and Cayman, aged eight.
He submitted the new plans to Runnymede Borough Council in May, and will be hoping there are no complaints from angry neighbours like previous developments.
Earlier this year, Mr Candy submitted a planning application for a 424 square metre lounge and dining room complete with Roman style columns
The extension relates to a mammoth five-bedroom guest cottage, which is connected to the huge main house with an underground tunnel.
The building’s design is proposed to be ‘neo-classical’ and Mr Candy hopes to get permission by axing plans to build a new garage and an outhouse.
The plans were the latest in a long line of redevelopments of the opulent Candyland complex.
The billionaire got the green light earlier this year to dig a 20-metre tunnel allowing access from his luxury pad to a 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’
This connects with the guest cottage nestled in his grand country estate through another 60-metre tunnel.
Last year, Mr Candy got the green light for his underground car museum which can store 57 motors.
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 was given the green light earlier this year to dig a 65ft tunnel (pictured) allowing access from his luxury pad to a 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.
They are most famous for creating the luxury One Hyde Park apartment complex in Knightsbridge, central London.
The brothers also own a large collection of luxury super-yachts, private jets and a powerboat called Catch Me If You Candy.
