The Qatari royal family has withdrawn plans to convert two London properties into a lavish $300 million palace.
The site at Cornwall Terrace was purchased by
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, the wife of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of the State of Qatar, in 2013 for an estimated £120 million ($180 million). The proposed palace – intended for the current or former emir and one of his wives – included a huge master suite with separate dressing rooms for the sheikh and sheikha.
The proposed plans for the property included knocking together two Grade I-listed mansions in Regent’s Park to create a 30,000 square foot palace with 17 bedrooms, 14 lounges, four dining rooms, a swimming pool, spa, beauty parlour, cigar lounge, cinema and juice bar.
It is understood that the planning application was withdrawn following advice from planning officers at London’s Westminster City Council.
The local authority has a policy in place to protect existing homes across the borough.
A Westminster City Council spokesman said: “The council’s planning policy is to maintain or improve housing supply in the city wherever possible – especially in the context of a London-wide housing shortage.”
The children would have had a whole top floor, with games room, snacks pantry and lounges.
Westminster City Council said it has received no indication as to whether the royal family will submit revised plans or sell the site, and Montague Evans, planning advisors to the Qataris, declined to comment when contacted by Arabian Business.
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