Ferintosh Distillery plans on Black Isle shelved for now, amid vow by developers to resdesgin them in the wake of objections and resubmit them to Highland Council at a future date
Controversial plans for a new distillery have been pulled temporarily by the developers - amid promises to revise and resubmit them in the wake of vocal opposition.
Applicant Morris Dalgetty has been seeking permission for a new Ferintosh distillery, visitor centre and café on land near Mulchaich Farm near Duncanston on the Black Isle.
If approved, his agents believe the complex could attract up to 20,000 visitors a year and resurrect a famous lost icon of the whisky world - with Ferintosh’s association with the water of life even immortalised in the works of Robert Burns before falling silent in the late 18th century.
A distillery in Dingwall later resurrected the name, but it too ceased production in the early 20th century and Ferintosh whisky has remained a name of the past ever since.
The developer and his agents, Organic Architects, are hoping to now bring the name back from the dead.
But the plans have provoked a number of objections from both the community and official bodies - with the concerns of archaeologists understood to be a factor in the developers' decision to go back to the drawing board.
There are scheduled monuments, such as a chambered cairn, close to the planned distillery complex, and the location’s ruins of 18th century whisky making facilities - something which was cited by developers as one reason for picking the site - may also have prompted concerns.
Following the withdrawal of the application, Gareth Roberts, the founder of Organic Architects, said: "The planning application to resurrect distilling on the site in one of the historic distilleries in the lost whisky producing region of Ferintosh has been withdrawn whilst we carry out further engagement with Historic Environment Scotland.
"The new distillery is proposed in this location to celebrate the existing archaeology, so we are committed to fully protecting this important site, as we have done with similar distilleries in other historic settings around Scotland.
"We have been in contact with local archaeologists for many years as we have developed the proposals. Finding a solution which satisfies all stakeholders in this complex historical environment takes time.
"The proposals will continue to be developed in consultation with HES and with the local community and we expect to resubmit an application in due course."
Claims that the developers plan to engage more closely with the community in response to local concerns have also been welcomed by Ferintosh Community Council.
Objections raised by locals have included a lack of consultation over the plans, as well as questions surrounding the identity of who the developers actually are beyond the sole name of Morris Dalgetty - something which people in the area complain they have been kept in the dark about.
The community council also feels that consultation with locals has been "sadly lacking" so far, but has welcomed Organic Architects' comments about being more open.
Becky RIchmond, the chairwoman of Ferintosh Community Council (FCC), said: "FCC represents the views of its residents, and objected to the application accordingly, on the grounds that the application breaches hinterland policy and there is a clear lack of infrastructure to support the proposed development.
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"We welcome any proposals from the developers to engage with the community and would encourage them to do so. Community engagement has been sadly lacking to date and FCC’s invitation to the developers to come and meet with our residents still stands."
Other locals who have raised concerns as individuals have also welcomed the news that the plans have been withdrawn.
One such resident said: "We are very pleased. The whole community will be pleased it has been withdrawn although we've no idea what happens next.
"I would not be at all surprised if there's a revised application."
They also criticised the secrecy surrounding the identity of the developers and also repeated local concerns over the suitability of the site - both in terms of local infrastructure like roads, and also in terms of location. They said the likes of Dingwall - having once been home to its own Ferintosh Distillery, would make a better choice of location - especially if the developers were to choose a brownfield site in need of redevelopment.
Historic Environment Scotland has confirmed it formally objected to the proposals over concerns about the potential impact on scheduled monuments, and has offered to meet the developers.
A spokesperson said: “[Prior to the application] we highlighted the potential for significant impacts on the setting of two scheduled monuments, a prehistoric chambered cairn and a late medieval settlement, and said we would likely object to the proposals if they were put forward.
“The proposals as submitted had not changed significantly since that time and we objected in February 2025. We have offered a meeting with the developer to discuss our concerns further, should they wish to move forward with revised proposals.”
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