Whisky firm is expanding

Jul 3 2009 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

STORAGE facilities at the Glengoyne Distillery near Strathblane look set to be extended.

Stirling Council planners are recommending conditional approval of the application by Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd.

The planners say while there would be a significant change in the scale of the buildings it won’t be to the detriment of the surrounding area.

They added: “The application seeks permission to replace and extend the storage facility, siting of a potable tank, car parking and ancillary works.

“The site forms part of the Glengoyne Distillery. The area comprises a mixture of buildings from different periods, in terms of appearance, character and function, thus creating a layering of time within the site which represents a distinctive pattern in the formation of the distillery.

“The site as a whole has two distinct areas. The focal point and main visitor area to the east of the A81 and storage buildings to the west.

“The proposed plot is accessed by an avenue, which runs through the western area of the site. The avenue is defined by bonded storage located to the north and east, which are uniform in scale and finished in brick and natural slate.

“The avenue also provides a corridor between the existing warehouses, which increases the visual prominence of the distilleries focal building from the popular West Highland Way.

“The proposed site is located south of the avenue measuring around 7500 square metres.

“At present there are two separate storage buildings within the site, which measure a combined area of 1770 square metres. The proposal involves the replacement of these buildings with a larger, modern storage facility.

“Land west of the A81, currently large occupied by bonded storage, would be partially redeveloped.

“A new storage building, similar in footprint but of increased height, would replace the southern half of the storage building on the site. It will be set back further from the A81 than the existing, which will facilitate a parking area, with the area of landscape next to the carriageway being maintained.

“The immediate landscape of fields and the first bonded warehouses were established in previous centuries and historically cannot be regarded as illmatched. Therefore, it is not considered there is a visual intrusion problem arising from the purpose of the building.

“The storage capacity of the site would also be greatly increased, reducing lengthy lorry movements between the distillery and Strathspey. The proposal will also create two jobs.

“It is acknowledged, however, that the proposals represent a significant change in the scale of the buildings, however the form, aspect and design of the development are such that it will not detrimentally impact upon the surrounding environment provided that adequate and rational landscaping proposals are employed.”