Site visit for proposed Grantown distillery
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee will inspect for themselves the proposed site for a new distillery on the outskirts of Grantown next week.
The application is for the erection of the development by Lower Gaich which also comprises a visitor centre, warehouse, car parking, road junction and associated infrastructure and landscaping.
A CNPA spokesperson said: "The purpose of this site visit is to help planning committee members to understand the physical context of the site and the land it occupies."
The site visit will take place next Friday.
The plans for the development at Craggan were submitted to Highland Council in the early summer by Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd.
It followed a public consultation earlier in the year when more than 150 people viewed and made comments on the proposed distillery and associated buildings.
Speymalt Whisky Distributors, who trade as Gordon & MacPhail, first unveiled their plans last year for the first new-build whisky distillery to be constructed in the Cairngorms National Park.
Ewen Mackintosh, managing director, said after the public consultation: “We were delighted with the turnout at our consultation event and support for our plans.
“Indeed, we’ve attended quite a few local events over the last year and been really heartened by the warm welcome we have received.
“As a family-owned business located in the north of Scotland we are very much rooted in our communities and we are keen to develop strong relationships in Grantown and the surrounding area.
“We were particularly keen to ensure we have reflected on the feedback from the local exhibition in our final plans.”
The distillery, yet to be named, has been designed to embrace the views across the River Spey to the Cairngorms.
Sedum roofs will help the buildings blend into the surrounding environment when viewed from higher ground, while the circular nature of the building will disguise much of the day to day working area within the service yard.
If approved, it will be the first new whisky distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park since the authority was created.
