The latest objection to the fashion designer’s plans says the proposed development will affect a “scenic and peaceful” area full of wildlife.
McCartney and her husband have insisted building the home is their “life plan”.(Image: SWNS)
Stella McCartney has suffered a fresh blow in her plans to build a £5m home in the Highlands after she was accused of threatening wildlife with the “habitat damaging intentions of a celebrity”.
The 53-year-old fashion designer – daughter of Beatles legend Paul and animal rights activist Linda – has been attempting to build a plush hideaway on the Moidart Peninsula in Lochaber.
However, it has been plagued by planning issues, forcing her and husband Alasdhair Willis to try to publicly defend their project, insisting that “this is where we want to be”.
The couple submitted their planning application to The Highland Council in February 2023, after purchasing the plot of land for £450,000.
In the latest complaint registered on the plans, a long-term visitor to the area fears the proposed structure would kill off a haven for wildlife.
The area is said to attract seals, porpoises, otters and several bird species. An extremely rare White Stork was also recently spotted there.
The proposed location of the property. It is feared wildlife in the area would not cope with the increase in noise and light pollution.(Image: The Highland Council / SWNS)
In his objection, Professor Calum Sutherland said he feared this could all be lost if the application is granted planning permission.
He and his family have visited Roshven Bay every summer for the last ten years, just below where the building work is proposed.
He wrote: “We choose this area as it is peaceful, relatively unspoiled and full of wildlife. The number of dwellings around the bay, and the number of wild campers, has increased steadily over the last five years.
“This has not led to significantly increased noise or light pollution on the shore areas, but the current proposal appears to be taking things to a new level.
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“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.”
Prof Sutherland said on several occasions they had witnessed a family of otters hunting along the shore right below the proposed development.
He added: “These along with the birdlife (including Great Northern Divers, Gannets and black throated divers), seals and porpoises we have seen on almost every visit, will most likely not cope with the proposed escalation in noise and light pollution.
“Wildlife tourists will be forced away from what has until now been a scenic and peaceful vacation area.
“Indeed, this year we were blessed to witness a visit from a White Stork, highly rare in the UK, never mind the Highlands. It is a shame that the ability of so many individuals to experience such an idyllic wildlife area will be aversely affected by the habitat damaging intentions of a celebrity.”
Images from the planning application showing what the property would look like.(Image: The Highland Council / SWNS)
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, which would delay the project by another six months.
He 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 against the plans for the glass-fronted home have become so fierce that Alasdhair Willis was recently forced to publicly defend it.
The application for the four-bedroom property has attracted more than 60 objections.
Mr Willis previously told the Press and Journal: ‘This is where we want to be.
“It is not a case of waking up one day and thinking this was what we wanted on a whim. This has been our life plan.”
The planning application remains under consideration by Highland Council.