Proposals for a new £21 million (€26 million) visitor centre at the Giant’s Causeway have been submitted to planners by the National Trust today.
The conservation charity announced it will also invest £6 million in upgrading facilities at the World Heritage site in Northern Ireland. If approval is granted the new centre could be open by 2011.
The move follows the decision earlier this year by former Stormont environment minister Arlene Foster to reject a plan from North Antrim developer Seymour Sweeney for a privately-owned centre at the site.
The British government had originally invited architects to enter an international competition to design a publicly funded facility.
However, that plan was thrown into uncertainty last September when the minister initially said she was “minded” to approve Mr Sweeney’s proposal.
The Department of Trade and Investment then handed over the lead role in the public project to the trust, which, in conjunction with Moyle District Council, continued to work on the plan despite the prospect of the private development being given the green light.
Although Mr Sweeney has lodged an appeal against Mrs Foster’s decision to refuse his bid, the trust believes a publicly owned facility is now back as the preferred option.
Tourist facilities at the Causeway have be housed in temporary buildings since the previous centre burned down eight years ago.
PA