New £20m whisky distillery by Laggan gets the go-ahead
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Plans for a whisky distillery by Laggan costing up to £20m which could create a 'good number of local jobs' have received unanimous approval.
Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee members gave the go-ahead to Speyside Distillers Company Ltd's plans when they met at their Grantown headquarters earlier today.
The company – which produces the award-winning Spey whisky – has gained consent to build a distillery, three warehouses, offices and other infrastructure at the site off the U220 and 250 metres south east of the Spey Dam by Strathmashie.
Water for the proposed distillery will be from boreholes to be located in the northern part of the application site.
It is anticipated whisky production will consume between 23,000 to 33,000 litres of water per week.
CNPA acting planning committee chairwoman Eleanor Mackintosh said at the meeting: "I think we have an applicant here with a good track record; we have a good application in front of us and a robust set of conditions."
Fellow committee member Derek Ross said: "I think it is a very good application and I would recommend that we approve this."
A proposed marketing suite will be home to an office and reception area, snug, toilets, marketing suite and covered viewing platform.
The building will act as a tasting room and gallery with private corporate entertainment space.
However, there will be no off-the road visitors allowed.
The application site extends to around 27 hectares and is mainly grassland used at this time for grazing sheep.
The scheduled monument Dun na Lamh – a prehistoric hill fort – is located at the top of nearby Black Craig.
Historic Environment Scotland said the development will not impede key views from the scheduled monument or have an adverse impact on the fort's ruins or its setting.
The General Wade Road crosses through the site and is a right of way.
The Spey Fishery Board made no objections.
Katherine Donnachie, CNPA planning officer, had stated in her report recommending approval: "The applicants currently operate an artisan distillery at Tromie Mills near Kingussie and have outgrown these premises with their lease coming to an end.
"This has prompted the proposed relocation of the distillery operations to the proposed site which they explain will retain the connection to the River Spey; bring all aspects of the process together; provide long term security for the business; maintain and expand the workforce, and respond to the increased market demand for Scotch whisky which they submit supports growth in the Scottish and UK economy.
"At present the applicants transport their product to the Central Belt for maturation and wish to mature the product locally at the proposed site so supporting the whisky industry and government drive for sustainability.
"The applicants advise that the proposed new distillery will not generally be open to the general public but rather to corporate clients and investors."
Ms Donnachie pointed out that the proposal meets CNPA planning policy and added it will 'provide and secure local employment', 'minimise onward travel to the Central Belt and support an important primary industry'.
She continued: "It seeks to replace and expand an existing distillery operation so securing its sustainable future and local jobs which is welcomed. A total of four letters of representation have been received including three objections."
There had been some local concerns about the use of the junction off the A86 which will serve the new distillery site and is the access for Strathmashie Cottages.
The distillery company has agreed to tarmac the first 50 metres of the section which covers the turn-off to the housing.
The company has held three public consultations on its plans and said at each one 'received very positive feedback'.
Chief executive officer John McDonough has told the Strathy one of the major draws of the site – around 2.5 miles to the west of Laggan – is the River Spey itself.
He said at the time: "We are delighted that we are probably going to be the distillery that is closest to the source of the Spey so we will have access to the purest water for our whisky."
Speyside Distillery's current site is at Tromie Mills three miles east of Kingussie.
The Strathy has contacted the company for a comment.
