Perth and Kinross councillors have approved plans for a Carse of Gowrie artificial insemination centre to be converted into a distillery.
Calls for the access road to the distillery to be upgraded prior to the business becoming operational were outvoted by a single vote.
Councillors were told it would be a “relatively small-scale distillery”, which will produce vodka, gin, whisky and arak.
Applicant Joseph Khazaka submitted plans to turn the Glencarse Stud Farm site at Cottown into Glencarse Distillery. Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee met to consider the application, which was recommended for approval by council planners, on Wednesday, May 13.
There were seven objections to the proposal.
Objector Charles Porter told councillors at last week’s meeting: “I was very disappointed the various objections were not upheld by the planning department. We have concerns over noise, odours but, more importantly, the road itself.”
He added: “The road is unmade, very narrow and used by a lot of pedestrians and dog walkers. It’s not built for commercial traffic.
“The condition of the road is quite good just now because the residents have undertaken various works but it deteriorates very quickly in wet weather and particularly over the winter. Heavy commercial vehicles, which will be needed for this distillery, will create a lot of damage.
“Mr Khazaka got permission for four houses in 2015 and, at that time, one of the conditions was that he had to make up the road to an adoptable standard before he started building.
“When he started the ground works, just prior to the five-year period, I got in touch with the council and got told the condition had been changed to him not having to do the road up until the fourth house had been occupied and then only up to an ‘acceptable standard’ which is a very vague term.”
Conservative councillor Bob Brawn tabled a motion for the application to be approved subject to a condition that the access road be improved prior to the distillery becoming operational.
Cllr Brawn said: “The applicant has promised this upgrade prior to this but it hasn’t been done. There will be more traffic going up and down to it, people working there.
“I do feel there needs to be something in here to ensure this road is enhanced. As it stands just now, it does not need to be done until the fourth house is built which could be who knows when.”
This was seconded by Cllr Ian James and supported by two other councillors on the committee.
Fellow Conservative councillor Keith Allan suggested a planning condition for the applicant to repair any damage caused by the ‘angel’s share’. He argued the whisky evaporating from casks during maturation could damage nearby trees, houses and fences. There have recently been cases of residents, who live near distilleries, complaining the ethanol vapour has caused a black fungus on their homes.
Cllr Allan said: “Having worked in this area and seen the damage this can do, I would like a condition included that any damage as a result of ‘angel’s share’ is made good by the applicant.”
But PKC’s Development Management and Building Standards manager Kristian Smith advised councillors it would not be an appropriate planning condition and could be challenged if appealed.
Convener Ian Massie tabled that the application be approved without the requirement to upgrade the road. He was narrowly supported by the committee, by five votes to four. Cllr Allan – who still called for an angel’s share condition – abstained.
