Green light for Grant’s expansion

A whisky distillery got permission for a huge expansion to build 18 warehouses measuring the size of football pitches.

William Grant & Sons are erecting the buildings to meet increasing demand for the popular dram.

The giant units, which are to hold maturing whisky, will each measure 8,000 m2. The distillery directly employs 220 people. The warehouses are to be constructed at a rate of two per year and are to be coloured olive green and surrounded by a secure boundary fence. They will be located 3km from Girvan next to William Grant’s site on land owned by the firm at the Grangestone Industrial Estate.

Resident James Gilroy said:“The impact on the landscape of this massive industrial development which will be visible from our house is not an acceptable use of a scenic area. There will be an effect on wildlife as this area is favoured by hares.”

Another resident Sheila Barne described the“industrialisation of the countryside”as“very distressing.”

South Ayrshire Council approved a planning application for the warehouses at a Regulatory Panel planning meeting earlier this month subject to 11 conditions.

The meeting was held remotely and in private.

A council report said the development will have no residual significant adverse impact on the environment if proposed mitigation is carried out and officers said it is consistent with the council’s local development plan.