Fans of Islay whisky could soon have access to a new malt, following the submission of a proposal for a ninth distillery to be created on the island.
Heathgreen Company has applied for planning permission for the distillery and visitor centre on land east of Ardnahoe Farmhouse, Port Askaig.
The application will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, with officers recommending that permission is granted for the project.
If sanctioned, this will be the first new distillery on Islay for a decade. The most recent was the hugely successful Kilchoman.
Heathgreen is an independent whisky blending and bottling company which specialises in luxury Scotch for both UK and wider markets.
The firm is hoping to produce 200,000 litres of whisky a year with the provision of at least four permanent jobs and additional seasonal employment.
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “This proposal, if approved, will be of great benefit to the local area, creating jobs and bringing visitors.
“It is consistent with the local development plan and there are no material planning considerations against approval.
“Various locations, including existing business and industry allocatios.
“We are unaware of any other suitable location either within settlement areas or on brownfield sites.
“There is an established whisky trail on the island. We would anticipate visitors would view this distillery as an additional stop on the trail.”
In a report before councillors, planning officer Peter Bain writes: “The supporting information seeks to clarify that the proposal will be a much smaller scale operation than that of the existing distilleries nearby at Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila.”
The council has received four objections to the application, mainly from people concerned that the existing single track road will not be able to cope with the development.
A planning condition has been recommended which would include the provision of five new lay-bys and the upgrading of 18 existing lay-bys.