Knockhill Distillery has the potential to create 11 new jobs and build a platform for future development if proposals for the new facility at Din Moss Farm near Dunfermline are approved.

The family-run farm currently produces sheep and poultry. However, with grazing only available seasonally, landowners hope to turn an existing farm building into a malt distillery, maturation warehouse and bottling plant.

A gin and vodka distillation still will be run alongside the whisky still to create additional income and allow those behind the project to develop and market the brand while the malt matures for a minimum of three years.

A spokesperson for Knockhill Distillery said the business plan submitted alongside the application demonstrates the business will be both “viable and sustainable”.

They said: “This plan shows that Knockhill Distillery has the potential to be successful, will immediately provide rural employment opportunities to local fabrication, plumbing and electrical firms, will provide up to 11 staff roles including trainee positions and has the possibility of creating a Fife tourist facility in the future with further employment opportunities.

“We aim to operate as a carbon-neutral business from the outset and will adhere a strong requisite to purchase and support local producers.”

According to the plans, there is a second, existing building on site that could be used as an additional maturation warehouse if required, with very little need for any physical changes to external finishings.

The distillery will also use a wood chip-fuelled biomass plant as its main source of fuel, with electrical back-up, The Courier reports.

The farm has extensive commercial woodland on-site that is ready for harvesting, and the farm’s own softwood timber would be used to power the distillery.