A DUMBARTON-BASED Scotch whisky and gin maker has officially unveiled their £40m expansion plan.

Top brass at Chivas Brothers have submitted a planning application to build a new 13m high bottling factory at their Kilmalid site.

Plans include a bottling hall and office set for completion by the end of 2019, which will be newly designed and purpose built.

The 12,000 square metre development would also include office, delivery, processing, bottling, packaging and despatch facilities – as well as an additional parking area.

The expansion plan will, however, result in the closure of the firm’s Paisley site but once the expansion is complete employees based in Renfrewshire will relocate to Kilmalid, creating an 1,100-strong workforce.

In May, The Reporter told how bosses at the firm outlined their proposals, dubbed 'Project Saturn' during a pre-application meeting of elected members of West Dunbartonshire Council at Clydebank Town Hall.

Alister McIntosh, manufacturing director at Chivas Brothers and Stephen Horan, of Charles Scott and Partners, the architects, also delivered a presentation at the time.

Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and chief executive at Chivas Brothers, said: "We're excited to be making this proposal for a £40m investment in our site at Kilmalid to create a new state-of-the-art facility.

"Our Kilmalid facility has huge potential and we believe that this project will have a positive impact for the local area, starting with the employment opportunities created by the upgrade works.

?"We've been in Dumbarton for over 80 years and in that time we have forged close ties to the area and its people. We are proud to be part of this community and now hope to build an even deeper foundation here."

Alister McIntosh said: "We are investing £40m to secure our future and the future of our employees. It’s about coming together on one site and to preserve the quality of our products.

"We have a great reputation for customer services, coming out from our Kilmalid site and we want to provide a manufacturing base that is fit for purpose too."

However, there are some issues to be overcome if the plans are to get the green light.

A report which went before members of West Dunbartonshire Council during the pre-application stage: "Part of the extension area is designated as a local nature conservation site and the applicant will have to demonstrate that there are no adverse impacts as a result of the development on the natural environment."

The report also stated the expansion would have the potential to “increase traffic” to and from the site, particularly on Stirling Road and the A82, adding that it would be “necessary” to include measures to maximise the use of sustainable means of travel.

Other issues include the proposed site’s proximity to the River Leven and the potential flood risk.

The Chivas application was validated by the local authority on Friday, May 26 will be presented to a future planning committee and the full council, if required, for determination.