WHISKY giant Chivas Brothers have confirmed they will be moving forward with a £40m investment for their Dumbarton site.

Following extensive consultation with employees, the drinks giant has confirmed they will be going ahead with the proposal first set out in November last year.

The £40m investment means the iconic Paisley site on Renfrew Road will be closing and all services will be moved to Kilmalid. Chivas Brothers currently employs 460 full-time staff in Paisley and 600 in Dumbarton.

The company has reiterated that there will be jobs available for all permanent employees currently based at Paisley.

Chivas Brothers chairman and CEO Laurent Lacassagne said: “We’re committed to operating in Scotland and building a strong future in Dumbarton where we have an 80-year history.

"Our next steps will be to move into planning and implementation, and to talk to local Council and Government representatives about how we can work together to maximise the positive local impact of the development.”

The aim is to deliver the project by the end of 2019 and will will be a "major driver" of the entire Chivas Brothers business.

Council leader Martin Rooney added: "This £40m investment is excellent news for the area and will secure and create jobs while increasing economic growth.

“This announcement from Chivas will bring more jobs to our area and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure our residents are ready to take advantage of these new opportunities.

“This development is a clear signal to companies and investors that West Dunbartonshire is very much open for business.”

The project will see the transfer of operations and activities from Paisley to Kilmalid commencing in 2018, with everyone based on the Paisley site moving to Kilmalid by the end of 2019.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie added: “This is a huge vote of confidence in West Dunbartonshire and the local workforce in Dumbarton. Chivas Brothers is the second-largest private sector employer in Dumbarton so this is a major decision for the town which secures hundreds of local jobs.

“We are lucky to have such an iconic global brand based here in Dumbarton and this investment will keep our whisky-producing heritage alive for future generations.”