Whisky giants Chivas have launched ambitious plans for a major extension of their bonded warehouse operation near Beith – almost a decade after a previous expansion bid sparked huge opposition.

Plans for the multi million pound project have been submitted to North Ayrshire Council by Chivas Brothers Ltd, which is part of drinks giant Pernod Ricard.

The site at Balgray is used to store and mature whisky before being transported to the company's bottling plant in Dumbarton.

The new proposal is to construct eight new buildings in an area near Gatehead farm which will be split into 19 smaller warehouses.

In their application Chivas said: "The Chivas Balgray Bonded Facility has been on the Balgray site since 1970.

READ MORE: Residents launch bid to halt Beith whisky bond expansion in its tracks (from 2014)

"Since that period significant investment and improvements have been made to expand the maturation site to meet increasing international and domestic market demands as well as technological changes within the industry.

"The current planning application is a significant investment by Chivas to reconfigure the site to provide additional whisky maturation and storage capacity."

The 2014 plans saw 14 new warehouses at the site approved by North Ayrshire Council for the firm's Willowyard site, despite concerns from local groups at the potential for a growth in so-called 'whisky blight' – a black fungus that coats properties and vehicles near many whisky bond sites.

Chivas currently operate 22 warehouse sites across the UK and have had two operations in the Beith area.

Their application added: "The current Chivas Balgray site currently occupies an area of 67 hectacres.

"The proposal is for Chivas Brothers Limited to acquire a further 14 for development.

"Whisky is stored and matured in barrels for a number of years, ranging from a minimum of three years then up to possibly 21 years, before being removed from the warehouse and sent for bottling or blending to another one of Chivas facilities."

READ MORE: Whisky bond expansion gets green light despite local protests (from 2014)

Chivas says whisky barrels would be stored on pallets up to a height of seven feet, with security for each warehouse provided by locked doors, alarms, CCTV. perimeter fencing and patrols.

The company said they had also undertaken a full consultation with local residents, community groups and elected representatives including two well attended public meetings.

They added: "We noted that different attendees visited on the second event to those of the first.

"A postal address and a dedicated email address were provided to ensure anyone could submit comments in writing."

Chivas said they had also submitted a full ecological report include wildlife assessment, and that 'contaminated land assessment' report concludes that the site was suitable for development.

Chivas added: "The level of vehicle movements to and from the current Chivas site are fairly small for a site of this size.

"It is not envisaged that the proposed increase in warehousing will have any significant impact on these numbers."

The current site at Balgray employs 22 people.