Energy company derails Glendronach expansion plan
An objection from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has led Aberdeenshire Council to reject the construction of two new warehouses near the Glendronach Distillery.
The Benriach Distillery Company submitted plans to the council in July 2025 for the construction of two storage buildings intended for long-term whisky storage. The proposal included sprinkler tanks, a pump house, a forklift truck charging shed, and associated infrastructure.
The proposed warehousing location was a 19,600-square-metre land, south of Reidswell Farm in Fortrie, Turriff, located approximately 2.2 miles from the Glendronach Distillery site.
The application is part of the distillery’s continued expansion plans, which was announced in 2024. It forms a multi-million-pound investment by Glendronach’s US-based parent company, Brown-Forman.
Aberdeenshire Council refused the application on 5 January 2026, following an objection from SSEN submitted in August last year.
In the letter to the council, SSEN stated that The Benriach Company’s plans conflict with the energy firm’s proposal for a new 400kV electrical transmission line from Beauly to Peterhead (BBNP) on the site.
According to SSEN, the land has been part of the BBNP plan since February 2023, with completion scheduled for 2030 to meet current government energy targets and Scotland’s net-zero ambitions by 2045.
The objection letter said: “With regards to the proposed Class 6 distillery warehouses’ impact on our proposed new transmission line, its design and layout configuration does not set aside any land within the red line boundary to accommodate the required delivery of our proposed new 400kV overhead transmission line route following SSEN Transmission’s completion of a comprehensive optioneering and routing process.
“As such, the proposed location and configuration of the proposed distillery warehousing lies in direct conflict with our critical national infrastructure project, which would bring many benefits to Aberdeenshire and the wider north-east region.”
The statement also expressed fundamental concerns about the construction of the overhead electrical transmission line, stating that, with the proposed warehouses, the company would be unable to build it.
“Its (the line’s) delivery is integral to addressing the climate and nature crises across Aberdeenshire, Scotland and the UK,” the objection letter continued. “Subsequently, while we understand the applicant’s ambitions to create additional storage for their distillery produce, we cannot support the proposed development in its current form or location due to its conflict with our nationally significant BBNP project.”
The Spirits Business has reached out to Benriach Distillery Company for comment on the rejected application.
Glendronach is one of three distilleries owned by Benriach Distillery Company, founded by Billy Walker and acquired by Brown-Forman in 2016.
Established in 1826, Glendronach Distillery will celebrate its 200th anniversary this year.
The distillery revealed a new design for its core range whiskies in 2024, followed by the release of 21-, 30-, and 40-year-old ultra-premium expressions in 2025.
Related news
ABD to acquire distillery in $7.7m deal
