The National Capital Commission has approved a proposal for the first phase of a residential development on LeBreton Flats. It paves the way for Claridge Homes to buy the 4.4-hectare parcel of land for $8 million.

The developer's design includes 850 units, covering five blocks of some of the most valuable real estate in Ottawa. The approval process has been a controversial one, since Claridge was the only company left bidding on the development.

Illustration of development plan
Illustration of development plan

NCC Chair Marcel Beaudry announced approval of Claridge's proposal, Wednesday.

"Both the advisory committee and the board concluded that we are fortunate to receive a high-quality proposal that has met all the criteria set out during an exhaustive process," Beaudry said.

Larry Beasely chairs the advisory committee that gave the nod to the Claridge design. He says the winning proposal was judged on its merits.

"So we felt we could evaluate ... this scheme as easily as if we had one scheme, two schemes or three schemes, because it's always evaluated against the criteria. And the bar has been drawn quite high in that evaluation in this particular case," Beasely says.

Ottawa architecture critic Rhys Phillips says he's still not buying that explanation.

"Well, I don't think it's a convincing argument. But, having said that, we have one project. Let's move on," he says.

Phillips says, in spite of the problems with the process, the Claridge design is a good one — better than 95 per cent of the city's new architecture.

Marcel Beaudry says the current design concept is preliminary, and will be improved to address concerns brought up during public consultations last month, especially the complaint that the design lacks variety.

Claridge has promised more than a third of the 850 rental and condo units will be affordable, more than satisfying the city's social-housing requirements.