Stirling’s MP has voiced support for a new £15million distillery for the area, which was refused by council planners last week.
Alyn Smith told the Observer he was “confident” the project might still progress despite Stirling Council planning officials rejecting the Wolfcraig Distillery application.
The developers, who say they have already committed £2.5million to the project, are vowing to pursue their plans - but have indicated that other locations may have to be considered if the broader council planning or appeal process proves time consuming.
Wolfcraig have claimed the distillery and visitor centre would be a “visitor destination target” for tourists to Stirling and could generate a staggering £1billion for the local economy over the next decade.
Mr Smith said: “I back this exciting development. I think it is good news for Stirling and will augment our offer nationally and internationally.
“Obviously, as Member of the Westminster Parliament, I am not directly or indirectly involved in planning - that is quite properly a council matter.
“I’m aware that there are ongoing discussions about the details of the application with the council officials and I’m confident that they will get to the right place.”
The planning application included production of whisky and other spirits, still house, workshop, enclosed yard, distillery shop, events space, cafe, restaurant, kitchen (licensed), service spaces, plant rooms, and associated 140 visitor/staff car parking spaces, coach parking, soft landscaping and infrastructure including a new access road for a site 465 metres south of Craigforth.
Last week a spokesperson for Wolfcraig called the decision “disappointing” and the reasons given “difficult to comprehend” but said the company remained “determined to build a world-class brand, whisky distillery and tourist attraction that the people of Stirling can be proud of”.
But they added: “The planning department’s decision has hugely impacted our project timeline and we may need to look at alternative plans to ensure we meet our production targets.”
A site near Touch Farm had originally been proposed but Ambassdaor LB Holdings LLP offered the land within their Craigforth campus redevelopment. A proposed bonded warehouse building had to be removed from the proposal and was expected to be part of a separate application once a suitable alternative location was found.
Some neighbours, however, were less than enthusiastic about the development.
North Kersebonny Residents Housing Association represented 10 owners at nearby North Kersebonny Steading and objected to the application on their behalf citing grounds including that the character of the area would be irreversibly changed.
In their decision, council planners had said the scale and nature of the restaurant/café, event space and shop was likely to “detract from the offerings within the Stirling city centre” and that there was “insufficient information” to back the applicant’s claims of city centre benefit. They also cited the “sensitive location”, saying the proposal would be “a significant intrusion into the open landscape”.
