UK: Crisp Malt submits plans for a new malting in Scotland

Plans have been submitted for a new state-of-the-art maltings at Portgordon, the Northern Scot reported on February 27.

Portgordon Maltings, part of premium malt manufacturer Crisp Malt, has lodged a planning application with Moray Council with the intent to develop a sustainable maltings on the grounds of its current site on the Moray coast.

Due to ever increasing demand from the distilling sector, the firm have stated that there is a real need to invest in malting capacity in Scotland to support the long-term growth of Scottish distilling.

The new maltings will be powered by the best available energy technologies making it one of the most efficient maltings in Scotland and the UK. Crisp Malt will be working in close consultation with Moray Council and the local community to ensure that they have an opportunity to discuss any concerns.

The new maltings will house state-of-the-art technologies to achieve sustainability goals and produce high quality malt for distilling customers in Scotland whilst also increasing the annual production capacity of the entire site from 42,000 to up to 162,000 tonnes.

Jake Lambert, Operations Director, said: “Crisp Malt has been supplying the Scottish distilling industry since the 1960s.

"Our current site at Portgordon opened in 1979 and produces 42,000 tonnes of malt to Scottish distilleries every year. This application seeks to support the growing success of the Scottish distilling industry.

“The design and landscaping of the proposed maltings will help the new development to sit well within the landscape. We want to continue to invest locally to ensure that the economic benefits of the growth plan will stay within Moray.

"This substantial investment will support the local economy, create jobs, provide more opportunities for local growers of maltings barley and support the distilling industry on its journey to net zero.”

A public consultation event will take place in the spring of this year to ensure that the public is properly informed of the project's plans and timelines and those who have an interest in the development can sign up to a mailing list to receive the latest developments.

Subject to planning application approval and schedules, production at the new facility at Portgordon Maltings is expected to commence in 2027.

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