The subject site is owned by the Applicant, Comharchumann Chléire Teo (Cape Clear Co-operative), and was formerly in use for fish farming-related purposes. The site and structures have been unused and vacant for several years. The Applicant became convinced that a distillery was a viable economic activity for West Cork, and particularly for Gaeltacht island of Oileáin Chléire, and sought to progress this development on the subject site. The proposed development sought to diversify and complement the existing agricultural and tourist activities on Cape Clear in a sustainable manner utilising the existing and well established access arrangements and infrastructure that serve the Island.

The development consisted of the provision of an integrated whiskey distillery and associated development (with ancillary waste water treatment facilities) comprising a mash house/tun room (171 sq m); fermentation building (236 sq m); stills building and decanting area (298 sq m); visitor’s centre, shop and staff facilities (134 sq m); glazed link area (16 sq m) and cask stores (745 sq m), all ranging from one to three storeys in height. The development also included the provision of ancillary plant areas including wastewater treatment plant enclosures and associated pipework; percolation areas; storage areas including water tank and grain silos; ancillary staff and visitor areas; landscaping and boundary treatments; lighting; changes in level and all ancillary site development and excavation works above and below ground.

Tom Phillips + Associates (TPA) acted as planning advisor to the Comharchumann from the Project inception and provided all planning consultancy services throughout the planning process including the preparation, coordination and lodgement of all planning documentation.  TPA also coordinated all discussions with Cork County Council and the lodgement of the Response to the Council’s Request for Further Information. Permission for an integrated distillery was granted by Cork County Council in September 2016, subject to 27 conditions. The development is now partially constructed and operational.