The distillery at Princetown within the Dartmoor National Park was given the go-ahead back in April 2017. Well over a year later and things on site are really only just starting to take shape so it's a good time to post some updates. There was a burst of activity in February and March 2018 before work ground to a halt following an issue, as I understand it, with the Environment Agency.
The presence of the distillery, destined to be the highest by altitude in the British Isles, has caused some controversy and hasn't been universally welcomed by Princetown residents. The £4 million project received 46 letters of complaint and only 4 in support. However, with the prison destined to close within the next five years, anything that boosts the local economy should probably be welcomed. We already have a brewery operating from the village and the distillery will be close to it.
There was also some concern regarding two buildings that were earmarked for demolition as part of the construction: a 1920s power station by Richardson & Gill and a 1950s 'pocket' power station building. The 1950s building is still going to be removed but the Richardson & Gill building has now apparently been granted a reprieve.
The distillery will follow the designs of Organic Architects, a firm based, fittingly, in Scotland and should produce 400,000 litres of whisky at start-up. Some local residents thought that the design was 'too Scottish' but I personally think the finished structures, once completed, will probably blend in OK both with Princetown and with the moorland environment.
The artist impressions above and below give some idea of how the distillery will look once it's finished, sometime in the summer of 2019.
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