Green bottoms up! Scottish whisky site to be turned into low carbon housing

The Scottish Government is spending £5.3 million to turn a former whisky bottling plant into a low carbon housing development.

The former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock will be turned into an enterprise and innovation zone for start up companies and include a renewable energy centre. Affordable housing on the site will be powered by a geothermal heating system.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “As a responsible, progressive nation, Scotland must also continue to demonstrate strong leadership on climate change. That is why I’m pleased that the Scottish Government will also be able to support our first new geothermal heating system in almost two decades, allowing local residents to access low carbon energy at an affordable price."

The former owners of the bottling site Diageo, will be contributing to some of the costs and have gifted the land for redevelopment.

David Cutter, President of Diageo Global Supply & Procurement, said: “Our ambition has always been to see this site redeveloped for the benefit of the local economy and community in Kilmarnock and this investment from Scottish Government is a significant step towards achieving that goal."