Go-ahead for Glenlivet Distillery tasting bothy
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A SPEYSIDE distillery has been given the green light to build a whisky-tasting bothy.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) planning committee today approved an application from Chivas Brothers Ltd for the bothy to enhance its visitor offering at the nearby Glenlivet Distillery.
The go-ahead was granted despite concerns about the impact of light levels on the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park.
A previous application was withdrawn in October last year. However, the authority was satisfied with a new location put forward by Chivas.
The new lodge is planned for land west of Grant Cottage, Glenlivet, on the north-east flank of Carn Ghrantaich. The existing Glenlivet Distillery is within view to the north-east and the former distillery to the east.
The single-storey building would be a modern interpretation of a traditional bothy, clad in natural local stone rubble with a pitched roof of locally salvaged natural slate.
The bothy would cater for small groups who want a special whisky tasting experience, with no more than four tours per day involving a maximum of 10 people and no overnight stays.
Visitors will be driven in 4x4 vehicles from the distillery to the bothy.
Planning officer Emma Bryce said: "In August 2019 an application was submitted for a new tasting lodge experience at Glenlivet, which attracted numerous objections.
"However, the submission we have before us today is different and an improvement on the original proposal.
"The building has been relocated, with the developer also amending the design due to concerns raised in relation to the impact on the Dark Sky Park.
"Our own CNPA landscape adviser is now satisfied the proposed location of the bothy is less prominent in terms of key viewpoints than was previously proposed.
"The design is good and there has been a significant attempt made to minimise the light levels so that there is no adverse effect on the special landscape quality of the dark skies."
CNPA planning committee convener Eleanor Mackintosh said: "I had grave concerns about this whisky bothy when I first saw the plans last year.
"However, I can see that the applicants have gone to great lengths to relocate the bothy and reduce lighting levels to allay fears about the impact on the Dark Sky Park.
"I do welcome this project, which is supported by our policies in terms of economic growth within the tourism and leisure sector."
