12 hours ago
Stella McCartney hits back at 'false' objections to plans for £5million Scottish retreat
She is renowned worldwide for her commitment to animal welfare in the fashion industry.
But Stella McCartney has been forced to hit back at 'false' objections to plans for her £5million Scottish retreat - after being accused of threatening wildlife.
The fashion designer and her husband Alasdhair Wills have faced backlash to their plans to build a modern glass-fronted home on the Moidart Peninsula, Lochaber, with more than 60 objections lodged with Highland Council so far.
Claims that their four-bedroom Commando Rock home would destroy a wildlife haven, however, has promoted the celebrity couple to hit back saying the proposed home was carefully designed to have 'minimal environmental impact' and would be 'barely visible'.
Their statement to the Daily Record read: 'The latest allegations sadly, continue to reflect falsehoods and factual inaccuracies relating to the planning application.
'What seems to have been largely overlooked is that there is already planning permission for a dwelling on the site dating from 2000 through a previous owner. This already consented scheme, unlike the proposed home, does not take into account environmental sensitivities.'
It added: 'Allegations have been made that the proposed house will be visible from all directions. In fact, the proposed house has been sympathetically designed and will be secluded and barely visible due to the site's contours, including views from the water.
'This highly sustainable home in terms of visual impact will therefore be considerably better than the existing permission.'
The daughter of The Beatles singer Paul McCartney and her husband made the comments following the latest objection from Professor Calum Sutherland who claimed the development would impact on seals, porpoises, otters and birds, which 'will most likely not cope with the proposed escalation in noise and light pollution.'
He wrote: 'It is a shame that the ability of so many individuals to experience such an idyllic wildlife area will be adversely affected by the habitat damaging intentions of a celebrity.
'The size and design of the buildings, extending out to be clearly visible from almost every direction across the bay, with significant upgrading of transport access near to quiet wildlife havens is highly likely to have a significant impact on wildlife habitat and visitor experience.
'Wildlife tourists will be forced away from what has until now been a scenic and peaceful vacation area.'
A previous complaint - thought to be from a birdwatcher - had earlier claimed the presence of Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler and Redstart mean further studies should be done later in the year.
That would set the project back a further six months.
The objector wrote: 'Because a field survey has only been carried out on a single day in a single month - December - the ecological appraisal is incomplete.
'It fails to acknowledge that a corresponding survey between June and September would reveal butterflies and other insect life plus summer-visiting birds which may include declining species such as Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler and Redstart, all of which would be vulnerable to human disturbance.
'It would thus be remiss of the planning authority to determine this application in advance of a further field survey which should be carried out on at least one day between June 1 and September 15.'
The backlash prompted Mr Willis earlier this year to publicly defend the plans when he said: 'We want a house that is in tune with the landscape, not working against it.'
Highland Council has yet to make a decision.
