Green light for return of an ‘iconic’ Islay distillery
A glass can be raised to plans for a new distillery on Islay after Argyll and Bute Council planning officers gave the facility the go ahead.
Diageo Limited has been granted planning permission for a new distillery to be built at the Port Ellen Maltings – despite an objection being received from Islay Community Council.
The plans, which will see the downsizing and removal of existing buildings, along with various new facilities for the site, will bring one of the world’s most famous distilleries back into production.
Port Ellen was established as a malt mill in 1825, and then developed as a distillery under John Ramsay from 1833 to 1892.
The distillery was acquired by the Distillers Company Limited in 1925 before being closed in 1930.
It was rebuilt in 1966/1967 and continued production throughout the 1970s, closing in 1983. Dwindling supplies of its single malt whisky, now a collector’s item, are still available.
An Argyll and Bute Council planning officer said that the proposed new distillery represented an opportunity to enhance what a report described as ‘an economically fragile area’.
A planning and access statement by Diageo said: ‘The development proposals will see a re-establishment of the Port Ellen Distillery.
‘Currently serving as maltings to the majority of Islay’s distilleries, Port Ellen will be brought back into production in an innovative combination of tradition and experimentation.
‘The proposals involve removal and replacement of several buildings included within the listed designation.
‘The buildings relate to the 19th-century distillery and were predominantly ancillary buildings around the perimeter of the distillery part of the site and over the years have been significantly altered.
‘As such, they are considered of little historic value and are not suitable for conversion in order to accommodate modern distillery requirements.
‘The removal of these buildings opens up the site, providing previously unseen views to and from the former malt drying kiln.
‘It also allows space for the development of a new distillery building to the west, and visitor building to the east with the reintroduction of Kiln Square in between.
‘The now isolated kiln building will be adaptively re-used to house visitor facilities and sensitively connected to the main distillery building via a glazed link.’
Community councillor Rachel Whyte said in a representation to the council in July 2019: ‘We are concerned that the development may reduce water and foul treatment capacity overall – and consequently jeopardise further, much needed, housing development in the Port Ellen area.
‘We request to know how many workers will be employed at the distillery and whether Diageo has considered how the housing needs of any new staff will be addressed. We also share concerns about lack of detail re flooding, foul drainage and air quality.
‘Port Ellen residents need assurances that the development will have no hazardous or polluting impact on their environment and that air quality is maintained.’
Answering those concerns, the planners’ report stated: ‘The proposal represents an opportunity to enhance the conservation area, setting of listed buildings and provide an overall improvement to this part of Port Ellen.
‘Islay is considered an economically fragile area and this proposal will generate employment opportunities and investment in the settlement.
‘The design is consistent with the provisions of the development plan in terms of impact on listed buildings and the wider conservation area.
‘The proposal has demonstrated a minimum and acceptable impact on the water environment through both a flood risk assessment and drainage impact assessment. There are no adverse comments from consultees and no third party representations.
‘The proposal also offers a unique opportunity to reopen an iconic whisky brand from the island and a chance to improve the realm around the maltings.’