Land valuation row takes fizz out of Brewdog plans

● Craft brewer says dispute with council could halt expansion bid

CA war of words has broken out between one of Scotland’s leading independent brewers and a local authority over a proposed land sale.

Brewdog issued a stronglyworded statement yesterday calling Aberdeenshire Council “deluded” over its valuation of a 2.5 acre plot adjacent to its brewery in Ellon.

The firm plans to build a restaurant and hotel on the site,

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next to its existing production centre, and was negotiating a sale price with the council.

It claimed the land was independently valued at £5,000 per acre in May 2016 but that council officers had instead demanded £300,000 per acre.

Aberdeenshire Council responded by pointing out the site was originally earmarked for a cemetery expansion. As there is an alternative use for the land, it cannot be sold at agricultural value.

“We have spoken with the council several times since, but they will not budge,” Brewdog said.

“We want to invest in our local area and create much needed jobs yet the council insist on making it impossible for us to do so.

“Let’s put this into context. We are currently building a brewery in Columbus, Ohio.

“The local authority there not only fast-tracked our application and planning consents, they personally ensured nothing took more than a fortnight to get approved.

“And we paid much less for 52 acres in Columbus, Ohio than our hometown council are charging us for 2.5 acres in Aberdeenshire. And both projects are in areas where job creation is needed.”

Jim Savege, chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “There are on-going protracted negotiations with Brewdog and this announcement appears to be intended to weaken the council’s position. We’re disappointed that the company has sought to break confidentiality during what we regarded as live and ongoing discussions to achieve an agreement which is fair to both parties and which protects the interests of the local taxpayer, as well as creating opportunities for residents.

“At the heart of this is issue is that the land Brewdog wants has been already earmarked for the expansion of the local cemetery. We cannot sell land vastly below market value – the figure Brewdog has been asked to meet is what the land is worth right now.”