A DECISION by An Coimisiún Pleanála regarding a proposal by West Cork Distillers to develop six whiskey maturation warehouses in the townland of Tullig, near Reenascreena, is expected early in 2026.

A spokesperson for An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) confirmed that the High Court quashed the Commission’s refusal of permission for the development of maturation warehouses, service buildings and associated site works at Tullig.

The spokesperson also stated that the file will be remitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála for decision in early 2026, and the parties to the application will be informed of the next steps.

It is understood that on September 29th last, the planning and environment division of the High Court formally granted an order of certiorari quashing ACP’s decision, which means it will have to go back to ACP to be reconsidered.

Residents of Tullig, otherwise known as the Save Tullig group, had hoped that An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly known as An Bord Pleanála, would formally oppose the West Cork Distillers application as part of the judicial review process.

As an appellant in the case, the community group has seen documentation confirming that ACP decided not to oppose West Cork Distillers’ claim for certiorari, quashing the original decision, on the basis that ACP failed to provide adequate reasons for disagreeing with their inspector’s recommendations.

It was in January 2023 that Cork County Council originally granted West Cork Distillers permission to build six storage units at Tullig. But an appeal by locals and an environmental group, Friends of the Earth, resulted in ACP, overturning the local authority’s decision.

ACP upheld concerns by locals that the development along what is known locally as ‘the old bog road’ was not suitable in a rural setting, and that the road network would not support the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

Residents had also argued that the development would have a negative impact on the wetlands at Tullig.

They cited the fact that the Argideen River rises in Tullig, a short distance from the boundary of the proposed development site, and flows east through Clonakilty to Timoleague before entering the sea at Courtmacsherry.

Latest financial results show West Cork Distillers recorded a pre-tax profit of €3.4m in 2024 in what was regarded as a challenging period for the Irish whiskey industry.

Sales at the alcohol group, which produces whiskeys, vodkas and gins, increased to €77.3 million in 2024, up slightly on the previous year.

The Skibbereen-based company sought the judicial review on the basis that ACP had gone against the opinion of its own inspector, who was handling the appeal case for the board.

The inspector had recommended granting permission for the warehouses, claiming that the development was supported by an agri-food projects policy in the National Planning Framework 2040.

The inspector also held that the development would not give rise to a detrimental impact on the landscape; would not injure residential amenities; would not cause unacceptable traffic hazards; and would not seriously impact ecological habitats or species.