Planning permission secured for craft distillery and visitor destination development.
Planning permission has been secured to transform a former oil depot on Ardrishaig’s waterfront into a craft distillery and visitor destination. The development, which will bring whisky-making to the disused site, received approval from Argyll and Bute Council on 25 September 2026. This project is led by John Moore and forms part of a wider waterfront initiative.
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The distillery marks the next step in the broader waterfront project, whose first phase brought the nearby Steamer Terminal back into use. The former oil depot site has presented challenges due to its industrial past, including contamination, which will be addressed through the redevelopment. This initiative offers an opportunity to tackle those issues and return the land to productive use.
Organic Architects designed the development, which will combine craft whisky production with tours and tasting spaces for visitors. Additional spaces will include a courtyard, terrace, and greenhouse alongside the working distillery.
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 now secured, the focus is on getting work under way to revitalise this long-disused part of Ardrishaig’s waterfront.
