The facility is the first of several new planned distilleries in Campbeltown.

Once home to dozens of distilleries and recognised as a distinct whisky region alongside Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Islay, until now only three distilleries remain. The approval of the net zero carbon distillery, owned by Glasgow-based independent whisky bottler and blender Brave New Spirits, is the first to be approved by Argyll and Bute Council.

Bari Reid, director of Organic Architects, said: “The distillery will be located at the disused RAF airbase in Machrihanish and will be powered by 100% green renewable energy sources and the latest in heat and energy recovery systems, making Witchburn one of the most environmentally friendly distilleries in Scotland. Capable of producing two million litres of alcohol a year, the distillery will operate 24/7 to ensure that it keeps reusing as much heat and energy as possible.”

He added: “Working with the local authority to get this application through the system relatively quickly means the Campbeltown renaissance can now move from paper to reality. Distilling is the perfect opportunity for the adaptive reuse of a building like this which has struggled to find a purpose, bringing highly skilled jobs into a fragile rural economy.”

The Witchburn Distillery plans to create around 30 permanent new jobs in production, warehousing and distribution, over the next few years with production set to commence in the last quarter of 2024.