Plans to turn a dilapidated Highland steading into a new distillery, warehouse, workers’ cottages and tasting lodge are poised to win approval.
Councillors have been urged to back the proposals for 19th century buildings near Ardross Castle in Ross-shire when they consider the scheme today.
The development, put forward by Ardross Investment Ltd, would breathe new life into a complex of buildings, some of which have fallen into a “dangerous state of disrepair”.
It is hoped that it would lead to the creation of 15 jobs and that production, using traditional methods, of “very high quality niche whisky” can begin in summer 2018, rising to about 1million litres a year when at full capacity.
The main steading building forms the largest part of the transformation, and would be used to produce whisky, including hosting a still house, tun room, mash house, an area for milling, filling and blending, and two areas for cask storage.
The existing Old Dairy building, to the rear of the steading, would largely be retained, and house the dunnage and boiler house.
Two existing semi-detached, one-and-a-half-storey cottages on the eastern side of the site would be restored and used for staff accommodation, while a former farm house on the west side would be turned into offices, and another house at the back would be used as a blending lab.
Away from the rest of the distillery, a newly-built rectangular tasting lodge would be located to the north of the site, adjacent to Loch Dubh.
Members of Highland Council’s north planning applications committee will consider the proposal at a meeting today, with officers recommending approval of the scheme.
In a report to the committee, they said: “While there is a relatively significant level of intervention, it is considered that through the use of appropriate materials with new sections of the building being sensitively sited and designed when viewed alongside the existing buildings, that the proposed changes can be supported and will safeguard the long term future of the dilapidated historic buildings.”
The report concluded: “It is considered that the proposal represents a positive addition to the Ardross area in terms of the economic investment that it may generate through employment.
“It is also encouraging to see the future of the listed buildings protected and secured through a high quality design which respects the setting of the steading and the category A listed Ardross Castle.”
