202402-Cairn-Issue-4-06-ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 7
In your community
Distillery given green light
Plans for a new £20m whisky
distillery at Laggan have been
given the go-ahead by the Park
Authority’s Planning Committee.
Having outgrown their current facility
near Kingussie, Speyside Distillers
Company Ltd applied for planning
permission for a new distillery and
associated infrastructure near the
Spey Dam, bringing all aspects of
their process together while retaining
their connection to the River Spey.
In addition to the distillery itself, the
development includes a marketing
suite, power house, of昀椀ces and
warehouses, meaning that the
company will be able to mature whisky
locally. The development also secures
a number of skilled jobs in the area.
Open house
The annual Rural Housing
Conference was hosted in the
Cairngorms for the very 昀椀rst
time this February.
The event brought together delegates
from the public and private sectors,
as well as communities from across
Scotland, to explore solutions
for delivering rural housing and
development in Scotland.
Sustained success
Making plans
Councillor Chris Beattie – the Angus
Council representative on the Park
Authority board – has taken over
as Planning Committee Convener
following the departure of Dr Gaener
Rodger. Recent planning approvals
include a new footpath linking
Braemar and Ballater, and a farm
shop and café at Logie Coldstone.
The Cairngorms National Park has
again been recognised at a European
level for promoting and achieving
sustainable tourism by the EUROPARC
Federation, the representative body for
European protected areas. Assessors
praised the commitment to partnership
working, quick response to Covid-19
and breadth of public engagement.
3, 2, 1… action!
The Park Authority is working
with communities to refresh their
community action plans. The
process identi昀椀es key environmental,
economic, social and cultural priorities.
Communities agree a list of actions to
take forward with partners, which also
helps focus funding applications on the
areas that matter most. For more info
call Fiona McInally on 01479 873 535.
spring 2024 cairn 7