A FORMER distillery and brewery building on Colonsay is set to become a heritage centre after plans were approved by council officers.
The Colonsay and Oransay Heritage Trust wanted to create the attraction, including an exhibition space and a shop, at 1 Colonsay Business Units at Dunoran in Scalasaig.
The application for planning permission has now been approved after Argyll and Bute Council received two expressions of support from the public during the planning process.
A council official said in a handling report: “The building has an internal floorspace of approximately 100 square metres. The application proposes the use of this space to provide a principal open plan exhibition area together with a secure archive storage and research facility, staff room and ancillary retail space.
“Minor alterations to the internal layout are proposed to facilitate the required accommodation. Externally, the application proposes the replacement of the existing roller shutter doors on the north elevation with glazed entrance doors together with the installation of a fixed glazed unit within the south elevation.
“The application has been accompanied by a supporting statement (SS) which outlines the proposed development and explains that the aspiration to establish a community hub is identified within the Colonsay and Oronsay Community Plan 2022.
“The SS advises that such a facility would provide opportunities for social interaction, learning and recreation whilst also supporting the creation of year-round employment opportunities within the community.
“It further notes the potential for the facility to expand in the future and operate in conjunction with other businesses and community organisations, thereby reducing running costs and encouraging greater community collaboration.”
The officer added: “The proposed heritage centre is considered to represent an appropriate and compatible use of the building within an area characterised by a mix of residential and commercial activities.
“Given the scale and nature of the proposed use, it is not considered that the development would give rise to any significant adverse impacts on the amenity of neighbouring properties or other existing land uses within the wider area.”
