THE Highland cottage once owned by paedophile TV presenter Jimmy Savile is to be destroyed as the council approves redevelopment plans.
The Highland Council planning committee has approved plans to demolish the cottage Allt-na-Reigh, located in the heart of Glen Coe, and replace it with a new modern home.
The disgraced broadcaster owned the cottage from 1998 until his death in 2011.
The building's new owners are the family of Harris Aslam, the boss of Kirkcaldy-based convenience store business Greens Retail Ltd, who plan to redevelop the cottage.
The plans presented to the council stated the family wanted to honour one of the cottage's previous occupants, Dr Hamish MacInnes, a famous Scottish mountaineer and inventor.
Dr MacInnes, who died in 2020, was the inventor of the stretcher that is used by mountain rescue teams all over the world and ice axes.
Under the proposals, the outbuildings of the new development would be named the Hamish House, to celebrate the late doctor and once-resident of Allt-na-Reigh.
The proposal for the redevelopment is for a three-bedroom family home with the design referencing “the wider traditional style of Scottish cottages”.
The application design statement by Jon Frullani architect's states: “It is our belief that the ensemble of these design moves are sensitive and considerate of the surroundings.”
This includes white render on the exterior walls of the building and darkened timber.
Allt-na-Reigh has been covered in graffiti in recent years since the decades of exploitation of young vulnerable women by Savile came to light after his death.
The Dame Janet Smith review, which was published in 2016, identified 72 victims of Savile in connection with his work as a presenter at the BBC.
One objection to the proposed plans came from the National Trust for Scotland - one of Scotland’s largest heritage conservation charities.
The charity said it was disappointed that plans have been approved and that the former home of McInnes will be destroyed.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “This is a prominent location in the heart of the Glen, right on our reserve boundary, and the new modern building will feature in some of the Highlands most iconic views – including the one on the front cover of our Glencoe guidebook.”
“We feel it will distract and detract from the immersive experience of travelling through a natural and cultural landscape that is renowned and valued across the world.
“The proposed design and materials do not reflect Glen Coe’s long-established, distinct built heritage – that is, white-washed cottages, some of the most admired and photographed in Scotland.
“We would be keen to work with the property’s owners on more sympathetic alternatives for the future of this high-profile location which has been allowed to fall derelict in recent years.”
