Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre plan is unveiled

THE National Trust has revealed details of its plans for a state-of-the-art multi-million pound visitor centre at the Giant’s Causeway.

The plans for the £8 to £10 million Visitor Centre were presented to councillors at the offices of Moyle District Council in Ballycastle on Monday, November 12.

The Trust outlined an ambitious plan to provide a “a world class centre featuring cutting edge design and facilities to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of visitors in the 21st century.”

The Director of the National Trust in Northern Ireland, Ruth Laird, said: “It is an exciting package, combining market-leading visitor facilities with the National Trust’s unique guarantee to reinvest all profits towards the permanent protection of this stunning landscape.”

The Centre is designed to act as a gateway, spreading the economic benefits of the Causeway by encouraging the half a million or so people who visit it annually to stay longer in the area and visit other local attractions.

The Trust say the centre would support and create some 200 jobs in Moyle District and the wider north coast area.

In harmony with its surroundings, the building would have a minimal impact on the landscape yet provide spectacular views of the Giant’s Causeway.

The proposal features an integrated solution to traffic flow and car parking as the Trust recently acquired the Causeway Hotel, allowed a “whole site” approach to be adopted.

If given the go-ahead the Centre would include six retail and catering outlets, with locally sourced produce and feature a product range which would showcase the “Best of Irish”.

Providing state-of-the-art visitor information, the Centre will utilise innovative techniques to promote Learning Through Discovery.

The building was designed by one of Northern Ireland’s leading environmental architects, Dawson Stelfox. (SP)