The team behind the proposed Ardrishaig Distillery, has announced that planning permission for its craft whisky distillery and visitor experience has been granted by Argyll and Bute Council.

The approval, granted on September 25th, marks a significant step forward for the project, which is being led by John Moore and forms part of a wider programme of regeneration on Ardrishaig’s waterfront.

The proposed distillery will occupy a long-disused former oil depot, a site whose industrial legacy has presented challenges to redevelopment, including contamination associated with its previous use. The project will provide an opportunity to address these issues as part of the site’s transformation and return the land to productive use.

Designed by Organic Architects, the development will combine whisky production with a visitor experience. Alongside the working distillery, the plans include spaces for tours and tastings, as well as a courtyard, terrace and greenhouse providing additional areas for visitors.

The distillery is part of a broader effort to regenerate Ardrishaig’s waterfront. The first phase of the wider project saw the nearby Steamer Terminal brought back into use, establishing a foundation for further development along the waterfront.

The latest planning approval allows the distillery project to move into its next stage, with work expected to focus on preparing the former industrial site for redevelopment and establishing the new production and visitor facilities.

Commenting on the news, Bari Reid, Director of Organic Architects, said: “The ambition is to give people another reason to stop and spend time in Ardrishaig, contributing to the life of the village as well as making whisky. It’s particularly rewarding to help find a productive future for a site that has been difficult to bring back into use.”

With planning permission secured, attention now turns to the delivery of the development and the transformation of the former depot into a working distillery, with production scheduled to begin next year.