Landscape charity opposes Savile cottage plan

The cottage has been repeatedly vandalised since Savile's death in 2011

Plans to build a new home on the site of a vandalised cottage once owned by Jimmy Savile have been opposed by the National Trust for Scotland.

The charity, which owns land in the Glen Coe where Allt-na-Reigh is located, said the state of the building had to be addressed.

But it said the planned three-bedroom house would "distract and detract" from the renowned landscape.

A spokesman for the site's new owner, retail boss Harris Aslam, would not comment.

The cottage sits opposite the glen's Three Sisters ridges of the 1,150m (3,773ft) mountain Biden nam Bian.

Another previous owner was legendary Scottish climber and inventor Dr Hamish MacInnes, who died in 2020.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said the location's natural and cultural heritage went far beyond the time Savile owned it.

The presenter, who exploited hundreds of people, mostly vulnerable young women, owned Allt-na-Reigh for about 13 years up until his death in 2011.

It has been repeatedly targeted by vandals in the years since details of his abuse emerged.

NTS said: "We do not believe that the solution is a building of deliberate contemporary styling in this prominent location in Glen Coe.

“This is without precedent and will distract and detract from the immersive experience of travelling through a landscape that is renowned and valued across the world.”

It added: “It damages our nation’s reputation for respecting natural and cultural heritage, while bringing no obvious public benefit.”

NTS manages the Glencoe National Nature Reserve.

Highland councillors have still to consider the planning application.

An earlier design for the property was withdrawn, following opposition to it from NTS and Mountaineering Scotland.

A spokesman for Mr Aslam said: "We have no comment to make at this time."

Plans have been submitted for a three-bedroom house

In the planning documents submitted to Highland Council, the project's architects do not mention Savile by name and only describe him as a "disgraced previous owner".

They said the redevelopment of Allt-na-Reigh would include honouring Dr MacInnes.

The mountaineer invented ice axes and also a stretcher that is used by mountain rescue teams all over the world.

Architects said outbuildings where the climber worked on his creations would be redeveloped as an ancillary dwelling and named Hamish House.

They said this new home would be a symbol of the "positive effect" Dr MacInnes had on the site.