Environment Minister Sammy Wilson today approved ambitious plans to build a £100million harbour eco-village on the site of a derelict cement works and quarry near Larne which includes the development of a world class off road cycling centre.

The site is split into two, thanks to the main A2 road, leaving the main quarry and headland. It is the quarry site that holds the most importance for mountain bikers due the enormous potential it holds. Designed properly, Magheramorne would be on the mountain biking World Cup circuit as a World Cycling Centre. At the same time, the variety of opportunities for different courses would allow for beginners.

Outdoor recreation is a key part of the redevelopment plans with the bulk of the 153 hectare site transformed into a major recreational and leisure attraction with a World Cycling Centre as the central feature.

The original plans, designed in 2006, include 7 downhill courses of various grades which would make up a total of 8 km of downhill courses in total, a four cross (4X) and BMX course including jumps and berms, a cross country (XC) circuit running over 5 km through the entire site and finally all the supporting facilities and accommodation you could imagine.

The mixed use development on the site of Magheramorne Quarry will include 450 environmentally-friendly homes, restaurants, retail units, a community centre, a hotel, a harbour-side tourist point with viewing tower, boating facilities and a chandlery, a heritage railway and visitor centre, an ecology/art park and also film studios and a backlot.

The Minister said during a visit to Magheramorne Quarry: “This is an imaginative and unique opportunity for Northern Ireland that will reuse what has become a redundant quarry and replace it with a major tourist attraction.

"With strategic rail and road transport links readily available due to its close proximity to Larne, one of the gateways to Northern Ireland, this will provide a boost for the tourism industry across the province.

"Two hundred years of quarrying and cement production has taken its toll on the landscape and I am delighted that this scheme will remove what has become a major eyesore from one of our valued scenic routes and rejuvenate the area.”

The planning application by Lafarge Cement UK proposes the development of the harbour eco-village will take place in a number of phases.

The Minister noted: “The project will be completed in a number of phases and the first phase will see the development of the World Cycling Centre, the first purpose designed mountain bike events facility in Ireland and one of the first in the UK.

"This is an ambitious and exciting £100million project for the 21st Century. It will create a variety of jobs and should also draw a range of tourists to the area."

In reaction to the announcement on the World Cycling Centre element, Clare Wright, Strategic Access Manager, CAAN expressed her delight stating “Having worked with Lafarge on this project for over 3 years, we hope to build on this relationship and continue working closely on the delivery of this exciting and unique project"

CAAN has advised LaFarge Cement UK since 2006 on the World Cycling Centre element of the project

It is understood members of the Cycling Ireland Off Road Commission will be meeting with representatives of LaFarge and CAAN next week to discuss options for the site.

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