10 whisky warehouses at Burnside Street, Rothes

“Application under Section 42 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) to vary Condition 1 of planning permission 22/01673/EIA to extend the period for implementation. • Planning permission 22/01673/EIA was granted for the erection of 10 whisky maturation warehouses, together with associated works, landscaping, and woodland planting.”

“The applicant proposes to commence preparatory works for Phases 1 and 2 in 2027/28, followed by construction of the first two warehouses during 2028/2029.”

“The application site is located to the west of the settlement of Rothes, occupying an elevated shoulder of land above the village. It lies between two valleys formed by the Back Burn and the Burn of Rothes, both of which flow eastwards through Rothes. • The site extends to approximately 50 hectares and comprises existing distillery laydown areas and barrel storage, together with land formerly associated with Ardcanny Farm.”

“21/01010/SCO - Environmental Impact Scoping request for the proposed development comprises whisky maturation warehouses a tank farm tanker bay, FSDU office and welfare building at the same site subject of this application. The purpose of the scoping exercise was to assist in advising the developer as to what information should be included and brought within the scope of any supporting EIA Report. This exercise was carried out in late 2021.”

“00/01226/FUL - Planning permission granted at Committee to form a cask storage compound at Glenrothes Distillery, Burnside Street, Rothes, Aberlour, Banffshire, AB38 7AA. Approved in October 2020, this area occupies the eastern end of the development on the area proposed for warehouses 1, 2 and 3.”

“It is noted that a Community Wealth Building Plan was not submitted in support of the original application, as this requirement pre‑dated the adoption of the Community Wealth Building Planning Policy Guidance (associated with NPF4 Policy 25), which came into effect after May 2023.”

“The Environmental Impact Assessment Report accompanying application 22/01673/EIA remains valid for the purposes of assessing the current proposal. That assessment concluded that, with embedded design measures and mitigation applied, the maturation development would not result in any significant residual environmental effects.”

“Strategic Planning and Development - No comments to make on requested variation to condition 1 as change relates solely to the time period of implementation of planning permission 22/01673/EIA.”

“Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service – No objection, highlights that there remains work outstanding under condition 14 of 22/01673/EIA as archaeological post-excavation analysis has yet to be agreed and undertaken. Until such time as the Post-Excavation analysis is agreed, this condition must remain live and therefore requests that condition 14 of 22/01673/EIA is brought forward on any new decision notice relating to the current application.”

“Issue: Traffic and road safety concerns: • Concerns that once works are complete, traffic levels, particularly lorries, will increase along Burnside Street. A bend in the road outside the contributor’s property, compounded by a large tree opposite, means that when lorries meet, one is forced onto the pavement, creating a safety risk.”

“Comments (PO): • The Transportation Manager has been consulted and has raised no objection to the proposed variation of condition 1 to extend the time period for implementation. Conditions previously recommended requiring road improvements to Burnside Street, a signed section 96 Wear and Tear agreement and a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) shall be reattached to the decision notice.”

“The meeting had before it a report by the Appointed Officer recommending that, for reasons detailed in the report, planning permission be granted for a variation to condition 1 of planning permission 22/01673/EIA at Land West of Glenrothes Distillery, Burnside Street, Rothes, Moray.”

“Following consideration, the Committee unanimously agreed to grant planning permission in respect of Planning Application 25/01457/APP subject to the following conditions and reasons:”