Stella McCartney has secured approval to build a £5m home on a remote Highland peninsula, following a protracted planning dispute centred on its design and potential impact on wildlife.
The fashion designer and her husband, Adidas creative director Alasdhair Willis, plan to construct a split-level property overlooking Loch Ailort, west of Fort William.
Set around 30 metres above sea level, the proposed home will feature a turf roof and natural stone walls, designed to sit within the surrounding landscape.
The plans faced objections over the scale and appearance of the development, as well as concerns about its effect on the fragile environment of the Moidart peninsula.
Particular attention was given to the presence of otter holts, underground dens used by the protected species, in the vicinity.
Revised proposals were submitted to Highland Council, with planning officers recommending approval on Wednesday, subject to a series of conditions.
These include measures to safeguard wildlife, maintain public access to the beach below and limit the impact of external lighting on the area.
NatureScot indicated it would support the development, provided monitoring measures are in place during construction.
It has suggested installing cameras to ensure there is no disturbance to otters or their cubs.
The site, a rocky outcrop known as Commando Rock, was used for military training during the Second World War.
Its Gaelic name, Creag na Speireig, meaning crag of the sparrowhawk, also links it to the Victorian artist Jemima Blackburn, who drew inspiration there for her bird paintings.
Although the land already carries planning permission, McCartney and Willis submitted a revised design they argue is more environmentally sensitive and less visually intrusive.
Local councillor Bill Lobban said the structure’s appearance was reminiscent of “a second world war concrete bunker”, adding that the “hideous design” was nonetheless “less hideous” than an earlier approved scheme.
.jpg)
A spokesperson for the couple said the property had been “sympathetically designed, using natural Scottish stone with a turfed roof, and will be secluded and barely visible due to the site’s contours, including views from the water”.
Some objections also raised concerns the property would be used as a holiday home. However, McCartney and Willis, who married on the Isle of Bute in 2003, have said they intend to live there permanently.
Willis previously stated: “This is not a speculative investment or holiday let. We want to live here full-time and be part of the community.”
Confirming the decision, a spokesperson for the couple said: “We are pleased that our planning application has been granted, subject to conditions, and are most grateful to officers and councillors for their support.
“Unlike many of the homes in the area, this is not a holiday home; it is a house that the family will live in, our forever home. We look forward to continuing to engage with the local community as we progress our development and when we move into our new home.”
