MOUNTAINEERS have objected to plans to demolish a Highland cottage once owned by Jimmy Savile.
A 16,000 member organisation representing mountaineers has told Highland Council to reject the proposal to demolish the cottage, Allt-na-Reigh.
Since Savile’s death, the house has often been marred by graffiti, and owner retail tycoon Harris Aslam is seeking to knock down the property and built a three-bedroom family home in its place.
An outbuilding is set be named Hamish House after MacInnes with work scheduled to begin next year. A commemorative plaque to MacInnes is also in the works.
But Mountaineering Scotland have objected to the proposals claiming that they may impact upon the scenic landscape.
A spokesperson for the group said: “This cottage is situated in a prominent position in a highly valued scenic glen, in a national scenic area.
“It is not overstating the case to say that the location and the prospect westward to the Three Sisters can be said to be one of Scotland’s most iconic views, along with the views along the glen from viewpoints on the southern summits and hill paths.
“We understand the desire to redevelop the existing cottage and have no issue with renovation of a cottage on the existing development footprint or the principle of demolishing the existing cottage to enable it to be replaced with a new build.
“We urge Highland Council to reject this proposal as it stands, until the applicant provides a landscape and visual impact assessment of the development against the special qualities of the national scenic area, from key recreational routes and viewpoints in this part of Glencoe.”
“It is our opinion, which we trust the Highland Council shares, that a modern structure which may have an impact on views within a national scenic area should be carefully considered.”
Highland Council have yet to approve the plans with a decision expected in due course.
The house is thought to have been built around 1890 and was previously owned by renowned mountaineer and pioneer of mountain rescue Hamish MacInnes.
However, MacInnes sold the property in 1987 and it ultimately ended up in the hands of the sex offender Savile between 1998 – 2011.
Aslam is the director of Fife-based convenience store operator Eros Retail and bought the cottage in 2021 for £335,000.
