ALMOST 400 new homes could be built on the site of a former distillery in Alloa after it was put up for sale with planning allocation for residential development.

The Carsebridge Distillery, which stopped producing whisky in 1983, has been put up for sale by its owners, Diageo.

Some 76.5 acres of land is available as part of the sale, the majority of which has already been earmarked for residential development as part of the Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan.

Property firm JLL is marketing the land for Diageo with joint agent Raymond Dunn of RJ Dunn Property Consultancy.

The site had been used as a cooperage until 2011, before operations were moved to other nearby facilities.

The areas where the main bonded warehouses stand span across nearly 58 acres and are being considered for residential development. A third area to the south of the site is presently zoned for commercial use.

JLL expects significant house builder interest in the site, which is only 9 miles from Stirling and well-connected by road and rail with the central belt and beyond. The town is well placed for the central Scotland motorway network, making it a popular commuter location.

Angela White, director at JLL, said: “This is a rare opportunity to develop a vibrant new neighbourhood in an attractive part of Scotland’s central belt.

“There has been growing demand for building additional, high-quality homes in Alloa – which has a range of draws, including retail and leisure pursuits and services including state of the art facilities such as the Speirs Centre and Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre.

“There are also four primary schools and two secondary schools within the town.

“We look forward to seeing the inspiring visions put forward for the site by a range of housebuilders and developers.”

The former distillery is located within the Alloa Settlement Boundary, on the north-eastern edge of the town, to the south of Sauchie and to the east of the Hallpark residential area.

The site in its entirety extends for around 77 acres and is bisected by two key roads – the B909 and Carsebridge Road.