Causeway plan 'advanced' - developer

Plans to build a free visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway are well advanced, developers said today.

The Sheridan Group wants to build hotels and apartments some distance from the World Heritage Site in exchange for building a new tourist facility at no cost to the taxpayer.

Environment Minister Arlene Foster this week said she is minded to grant planning permission for the building to rival businessman Seymour Sweeney who is also a member of the DUP.

However, Sheridan Group chief executive Peter Holmes, said: "It would not take us long to get there, we have involvement with local architectural frameworkers.

"The proposal is at a fairly advanced stage. We would not be falling behind. "We have a very strong reputation of moving quickly on projects and delivering them on time."

The group, owned by Belfast businessman Peter Curistan, built the Odyssey Arena on the city's riverfront and has been involved in several other developments.

Mr Holmes said today's initiative followed delay to construction of the north coast visitors' centre.

The old one was burned down in 2002 and Ms Foster's intervention followed demands for progress.

Her move has been greeted with dismay by campaigners for a publicly-owned centre who raised the possibility of a conflict of interest between the DUP and Mr Sweeney's Seaport Investments Company.

Ms Foster has denied ever meeting Mr Sweeney and said the issue was being used as a political football.

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