Stella McCartney and her husband face another hurdle for planned £5million ... trends now
Fashion designer Stella McCartney and her husband face another hurdle for their planned £5million modernist mansion in the Scottish Highlands after the previous owner of the site lodged an objection.
Ms McCartney,52, and her husband Alasdhair Willis bought the plot of land on the rugged coastline of remote island Commando Rock at Glenuig, which was on the market for £450,000.
However, Mrs Karen White, who now lives in Taunton, Somerset, has stuck a spanner in the works for the daughter of Beatles star, Paul McCartney, after formally objecting to the designs for the £5m modernist home.
Mrs White said that what is proposed would have 'a needless impact on the sensitive ecology and landscape'.
The former owner of the plot is not the only one with a gripe against the couple's plans, which have also been less than well received by locals too, with over 50 objections.
Applying in Mr Willis's name, the couple have lodged plans with Highland Council.
Fashion designer Stella McCartney (pictured at the Met Gala in New York) and her husband face another hurdle for their planned £5million modernist mansion in the Scottish Highlands
Ms McCartney and her husband Alasdhair Willis bought the plot of land on the rugged coastline which was on the market for £450,000
In her letters to Highland Council Mrs White says she was writing as the previous owner of the site, detailing that when she had obtained planning permission in the past, it was 'carefully considered' with 'minimal impact on flora and fauna'.
She had obtained planning permission for a permanent family home in 1999, which was 'extremely sensitive given the nature of the site and great care was taken to make the house unobtrusive and appropriate for the stunning environment and setting'.
But Mrs White said that Willis' application was out of keeping with the area, and would require 'the removal of mature pine trees' and would disturb the habitat of otters.
She wrote: 'Firstly, the site is very beautiful and ecologically sensitive. It has ancient oak woodland as well as significant landscape trees.
'The original 1999 proposal was very carefully considered to ensure the building had minimal impact on flora and fauna and in particular the ancient woodland and the landscape significant pines.
'This is not the case with the current proposal. The building footprint has been moved further forward towards the sea.
'The footprint has been enlarged significantly by adding two new wings, one of which impinges on the ancient oak woodland and the other encroaches on the cliff edge and hence requires the removal of mature pine trees.
'The justification given by the architect for shifting the site make no sense but mean there is a far greater impact on the flora and fauna. There is no need on such a large site to impact so significantly on this precious flora and fauna.
Ms McCartney and her husband Alasdhair Willis bought the remote plot for £450,000
Mrs Karen White, who now lives in Taunton, Somerset, has formally objected to the designs for the £5m modernist home at remote Commando Rock at Glenuig
'Secondly in siting the 1999 building the planner at the time, (Ken Johnston)
