UK: Beam-Suntory gets East Ayrshire approval for a new whisky maturation facility

East Ayrshire councillors have given the go ahead to a £150m whisky maturation facility, despite vociferous opposition from people living and working near the site.

Beam-Suntory, the Japanese company which took over US whiskey giant Jim Beam and produces well known Scottish Whiskies, Laphroig and Ardmore. sought approval for the facility, which would hold up to half a million barrels of spirits at any one time.

Seven objectors were at East Ayrshire Council headquarters to make the case for refusing the application, focusing on the potential impact on the health and amenity of those living in the vicinity, and the environment, including the impact on the protected peatland.

Several questioned the assessment of the potential impact – particularly the issue of noise levels and of the risk around ethanol released through the barrels of whisky into the surrounding area – a process often described as the ‘Angels’ Share’.

However, planners pointed out that there had been no objections from the council’s Environmental Health team, SEPA, Ayrshire Roads Alliance or Naturescot.

Elliot Davis, who runs a hi-fi cabling company from the nearby B-Listed Kingswell Farm, claimed that he had correspondence between East Ayrshire Council’s Environmental Health service and the applicant, that a noise assessment would be undertaken at his property.

However, he said no such survey was carried out and claimed that the noise levels would lead to his business becoming unviable, given the property was where he evaluated audio quality of cables – something that would be impacted by noise.

Council officials did not refute the claim by Mr Davis, but suggested that they could not stipulate where a noise assessment would be carried out, simply telling the committee that the noise assessment provided was satisfactory.

26 March, 2024