The community group behind plans to build a new distillery in Moray have marked a milestone in the development by releasing images of a whisky-themed play area.
The community group behind plans to build a new distillery in Moray have marked a milestone in the development by releasing images of
The Cabrach Trust has fine-tuned its £5.3million scheme to transform disused farm steadings into a distillery with an accompanying visitor centre.
A planning application for the site has now been lodged with Moray Council.
And today the group has revealed artwork showing what an accompanying play area – inspired by whisky production techniques – will look like.
The “highly imaginative” equipment has been designed take the form of copper stills which children can enter, with a slide leading down from one.
The two stills would be joined by monkey bars which youngsters can climb across.
There will also be a waterway feature, which children can use to fill oak casks.
Cabrach Trust executive director, Sue Savege, said the plans being lodged was a watershed moment for the group.
She said: “The submission of the planning application is an exciting milestone in this project.
“They are the result of many months of work to ensure that the plans are sympathetic to this spectacular and largely untouched area, and in keeping with the landscape.
“We believe the centre will be a successful venture, bringing new people to the area, creating at least 12 jobs, raising the morale of the local communities and contributing to a sustainable future for the Cabrach.”
The designs submitted have been drawn up by local architects, AKA Ltd, and interior designers, Surface ID.
The application to covert Inverharroch Farm is expected to come before the council’s planning committee later this year.
The Cabrach Trust says the venture should regenerate the rural area to the south of Moray, which played a pivotal role in the birth of Scotland’s whisky industry.
Researchers have been employed by the organisation to investigate the area’s smuggling routes and illicit stills.
The distillery will employ time-honoured production techniques pioneered in the early 19th century.
The heritage centre proposals include a café, exhibition space for public and private hire and a gift shop, built around a courtyard.
Subject to planning consent and funding, work would start on the distillery in 2018 followed by the heritage centre, with a projected completion date for both of spring 2020.
