Scotch whisky giants given green light for expansion plan

A Scotch whisky firm has been given the thumbs-up to increase its car parking capacity at its operation near Girvan.
William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd have been given the go-ahead by council planners to provide 100 new spaces for staff and contracting visitors.
The new car park will accommodate 87 normal car parking spaces, five van spaces, four future electric vehicle spaces and three disabled bay spaces next to its Guardian Building.
Agents in the proposals were the NIRAS Group (UK) who said in a planning statement: ‘As part of achieving their future expansion aspirations, WGSD are wanting to increase their current car parking facilities within their site by providing a new 100 space car park for staff and contracting visitors. The Guardian Building is currently unoccupied and therefore does not have any formal parking, however; there is space for approximately 16 vehicles.
‘The new car park will accommodate 87 normal car parking spaces, five van spaces, four future electric vehicle spaces and three disabled bay spaces.
‘The proposed car park can be accessed via Ladywell Avenue within the Grangestone Industrial Estate from the B741, this existing access will remain unaltered.’
The agents also go on to say that while a parking assessment ‘has not been undertaken’ there is going to be ‘no net increase’ in traffic, due to the proposed car park being used to ‘cater for the current volume of contractors visiting the site on a daily basis.’
The proposed car park expansion site covers an area of approximately 2,605m2 within the Grangestone Industrial Estate, according to the application.
In approving the plans, subject to conditions, council papers said: ‘The formation of a car park is part of achieving the company’s future expansion aspirations.
‘The proposals shall enhance the facilities for the established distillery complex for the benefit of employees and visitors.
‘The proposed development is sited within an existing industrial area which has well-established transport links. It is not considered that the proposals will have any significant impact on the overall traffic movements within or from the distillery complex.
“Additionally, the Ayrshire Roads Alliance have offered no objections to the proposals subject to conditions and advisory notes. There are no residential properties in the immediate vicinity of the application site. Therefore, the proposals are not considered to impact on residential amenity.’