MAJOR PLANS that would put Glenrothes at the heart of Scotland’s whisky industry have been approved by local councillors.
Members of the Glenrothes area committee have agreed to the construction of a large distillery on land adjacent to the Whitehill industrial estate, sandwiched between Fife airport and the B921 Kinglassie Road.
A number of warehouses will be built at the six-hectare site, to be utilised by Milnathort distiller John Fergus and Co Ltd.
It is thought that around 17 full-time jobs will be created as a result.
A report prepared by council planning officials described the development as “an exciting opportunity,” adding “the use of the site as a distillery accords with the Scottish Government’s economic development strategy focus on the food and drink sector, and further cements Fife’s increasingly important role at the heart of the country’s drinks industry.”
Describing the project to councillors, council planner Elspeth Cook said: “This is a significant application and investment in the town.
“However, it is nowhere near the scale of the Diageo plant in Leven.”
With the site for the proposed building lying next to Fife airport, both the operators of the facility and air authorities were consulted, with no objections being made.
A major regeneration of the Whitehill area, which would see a large housing estate constructed in the area, would also be unaffected.
Planning officers also offered assurances that additional traffic surrounding the site would have minimal impact.
The approval was welcomed by Ian Palmer, managing director of John Fergus and Co Ltd.
He said: “We are delighted by the decision of the committee and the support we have received from Fife Council.
“We don’t have all of the funding in place as yet but we are working with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government.
“Construction will start later this year.”
It is believed the whisky distilled at the site will be exported to India, where a strong market for the tipple is emerging.
An additional application to create an access road via the Whitehill industrial estate was also approved.
jowatson@thecourier.co.uk