Plans have been approved for a new £8 million whisky distillery on Islay in Argyll and Bute.

The new facility and a visitors centre will be built by family-owned whisky firm Hunter Laing & Co.

Cllr David Kinniburgh, Policy Lead for Planning, said: "We were delighted to approve this application. We are fully supportive of this development – it will be a great boost not just to Islay but to Argyll and Bute

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"As well as the distillery itself, there are a number of additional benefits. The whisky industry supports a range of other businesses, such as haulage firms, who take the product round the country and even overseas. With 200,000 litres of whisky being produced every year this will mean more work for local transport firms, which is obviously fantastic news.

"The visitor centre is a welcome addition to the scheme, supporting another business area – tourism. On an established whisky trail, we would hope the new facility brings in even more visitors. I'’s great to see another distillery being built on Islay."

(Image: Hunter Laing & Co)

(LM)