Beam Suntory & Ardtalla Estate.

Community Engagement

Client: Beam Suntory & Ardtalla Estate

Location: Islay, Scotland

Project: Lead community engagement for a complex and highly sensitive planning consultation process relating to peat harvesting on the island of Islay.

The proposals centred on Glenmachrie Moss and Ballivicar Moss, two adjacent sites crucial to the continued production of peated malt for the island’s renowned Scotch whisky distilleries.

This project's purpose was to ensure open, transparent, and inclusive dialogue with local communities and stakeholders, in line with statutory pre-application consultation (PAC) requirements. Our role included planning and delivering the full consultation process, preparing content, gathering feedback, and managing reputational and environmental concerns.

Our Approach

  • We designed a community engagement programme that combined traditional face-to-face methods with wider digital and media outreach. Key components included:

  • Two public exhibitions hosted at the Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen, promoted via local newspaper notices (The Ileach, September and October editions) and through personalised email invitations to over 50 community stakeholders .

  • A comprehensive exhibition of accessible materials explaining the need for peat, industry sustainability commitments, and detailed site-specific restoration plans .

  • Creation and distribution of printed and digital leaflets and posters outlining the rationale, environmental mitigation strategies, and feedback mechanisms.

  • Development of a dedicated feedback form and email channel to capture views from those unable to attend in person.

  • Publication of Q&A responses and environmental commitments to reassure community concerns and close the loop with consultees.

What We Delivered

  • Inclusive Reach: Engagement with over 70 individuals and organisations across multiple channels, including those with environmental concerns and industry representatives.

  • Accessible Consultation: Exhibition content was made available online and in-person, with accessible formats and plain language explanations.

  • Evidence-Based Feedback: All community feedback was analysed and summarised with clear responses and mitigation commitments, made available at the second consultation event and online.

  • Reputation Management: We supported Beam Suntory and Ardtalla Estates in demonstrating their alignment with peatland restoration targets, biodiversity protection, and responsible peat use through proactive media engagement and stakeholder reassurance.

  • Environmental Dialogue: Responded sensitively and robustly to complex concerns, including carbon release, biodiversity impact, and water management, grounding all responses in science-based targets and policy alignment.

Impact

The consultation process not only fulfilled statutory requirements but also strengthened local understanding of the whisky industry’s environmental responsibilities and economic importance. Feedback from participants highlighted the professional and open nature of the engagement.

This work demonstrates our capacity to handle high-stakes, environmentally sensitive engagement on Scotland’s islands, balancing regulatory needs, public concerns, and commercial interests with credibility and care.