Stella McCartney hits back at her would-be neighbours after they slammed her planned £5m modernist mansion in the Scottish Highlands

• Architects Brown and Brown said the plan was ‘unashamedly contemporary’ 

Stella McCartney and her husband have hit back at locals after they slammed the couple’s planned £5million modernist mansion in the Scottish Highlands. 

Architects Brown and Brown said the plan was to create an ‘unashamedly contemporary’ but complementary addition to the beauty spot, which is around 30 miles west of Fort William on the Moidart peninsula. 

The application for the Lochailort area is in the name of the fashion designer’s husband, Alasdhair Willis.

But proposals by McCartney, 52, and Willis for a secluded hideaway at Commando Rock in Glenuig have been met with criticisms and objections.

Dozens of objections have been lodged with Highland Council including fears over the impact of trees and a possible otter population. Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS) are one of the groups that want the application delayed or refused due to a lack of information over its impact.

Residents also raised issues with the property’s ecological impact and how it would restrict access to a beach ‘used extensively by locals and holiday-makers’.

But Brown and Brown have written to Highland Council labelling some of the comments over the size of the planned property and loss of an otter holt as inaccurate. They also said they are looking at re-introducing of a number of native Scots pine trees following complaints some could be at risk. 

Proposals by Stella McCartney and husband Alasdhair Willis for a secluded hideaway at Commando Rock in Glenuig have been met with criticisms and objections

Architects Brown and Brown said the plan was to create an ‘unashamedly contemporary’ but complementary addition to the beauty spot

The area is around 30 miles west of Fort William on the Moidart peninsula

They said: ‘We are aware of comments from the public regarding the loss of the group of ‘Scots Pine’ present on the site, and also those of the council tree officer, who suggest the group may in fact be ‘Corsican Pine’.

‘Following receipt of this comment we have sought further arboricultural advice, which also seems to suggest this grouping of trees are of non-native Corsican Pine.

‘We are awaiting updated and additional arboricultural reports relating to these trees, which we will in turn submit to you for consideration.

‘In addition, our client is also looking at the feasibility of the re-introduction of a number of native Scots pine contingent on the ground and nutrient conditions supporting such long term planting.’

They added: ‘It has been raised by public comment that the proposed location of the building interferes with the location of an otter holt.

‘Having visiting the site, and walked over all applicable areas of the site, we can find no evidence of any such holt, and have not been made aware of any evidence to the contrary.’

Brown and Brown said the couple rejected some comments over the size of the planned house

Dozens of objections have been lodged with Highland Council including fears over the impact of trees and a possible otter population

Residents also raised issues with the property’s ecological impact and how it would restrict access to a beach ‘used extensively by locals and holiday-makers’

Read more: Stella McCartney, 52, may be the darling of the fashion world, but her would-be neighbours in the Scottish Highlands are putting up a fight against her plan for a £5MILLION modernist mansion

Brown and Brown said the couple also rejected some comments over the size of the planned house.

They said: ‘The applicant is aware of several comments made relating to the scale and location of the proposed development, which are either felt to be inaccurate, or against which it is felt further context would be beneficial.

‘It is not considered that the proposed house will be visible from Roshven House, or the adjacent Roshven Boathouse (run as a holiday let business), with both the existing topography and forestry making this impossible.

‘The proposed location of the house is to the North-West of the foundations already on site (under the extant permission for a dwelling house), to prevent the house being located at the horizon of the site when viewed from the water (as it is not considered the house can be seen from any location on land close enough for the form to be determined).’

McCartney, the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has established herself as one of the world’s leading fashion designers.

She was awarded a CBE in recognition of her services to fashion and sustainability.

Highland Council are expected to make a decision in due course.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis for comment. 

Source: Read Full Article