A three-year planning battle is raging over proposals by renowned fashion designer Stella McCartney and her husband, Alasdhair Willis, to build a £5 million 'eco-home' on a historic and environmentally sensitive clifftop in the Scottish Highlands.
The Controversial Vision for Commando Rock
The site, known as Commando Rock on the Moidart coastline above Roshven Bay, was once used to train elite troops during the Second World War. The couple's vision is for a low-slung, contemporary five-bedroom home designed with steel, glass, and natural stone to hug the dramatic outcrop. The design includes a 'green' roof seeded with grasses and heather intended to camouflage the structure within the landscape.
Despite the sustainable aims, the application has been languishing with Highland Council for nearly three years, with no decision in sight. The delay is attributed partly to the site's sensitive nature but also to the high-profile identities of the applicants and significant local and national opposition.
A Torrent of Objections and Accusations of Hypocrisy
More than 60 letters of objection have been submitted, accusing McCartney—a CBE recipient celebrated for her work in fashion sustainability—of hypocrisy. Critics label the proposed build an act of environmental vandalism.
Objectors, including near neighbours and individuals living hundreds of miles away, fear the development will threaten protected wildlife like otters, pine martens, and declining bird species. The design has been called a 'monstrosity' and a 'carbuncle on the bluff', with concerns it is 'out of keeping' with the pristine landscape.
In a significant blow, Imogen Furlong, countryside ranger service manager for High Life Highland (the council's own heritage body), filed a 'strong objection'. She stated the proposal 'goes far beyond what is appropriate or sustainable for such an environmentally sensitive and culturally important landscape.'
The Couple's Defence and a Clash of Evidence
In response, McCartney and Willis have launched a counter-offensive against what they term 'falsehoods and factual inaccuracies'. They insist the home will be highly sustainable and sympathetically designed, almost completely hidden from view.
The couple argue their design is an improvement on existing permission granted in 2000 for a larger, more conspicuous house on the same plot. They have pledged to save the non-native Corsican pines, plant native trees, and maintain public beach access.
A key point of contention is the presence of legally protected otters. While a report commissioned by the couple found no otters, local ecologist Dr Leon Durbin submitted video evidence of otter activity, claiming construction would lead to illegal disturbance. Ironically, Dr Durbin admitted to accidentally starting a severe hill fire on the site in June 2021, which he called the 'biggest regret of my life'.
The Arisaig & District Community Council warns the impact on 'one of the last undeveloped parts of the Roshven coastline' would be irreversible.
Long-Standing Links and a Battle of Wills
The McCartney family has a long connection to Scotland, with Sir Paul purchasing a farm in Kintyre in 1966. Stella and Alasdhair, who married on the Isle of Bute in 2003, bought the Commando Rock site in 2021 for offers over £450,000.
Willis has stated this is intended as a 'forever home', not a holiday let, and that they wish to become part of the community. He warned that if their new application is refused, they will build the already-approved, more intrusive house.
With no date set for the planning committee to hear the case, the long and winding road to a decision continues, mirroring the famous song Sir Paul McCartney wrote at his Highland retreat, about a door you never quite reach.
